Sightings – Page 58 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Common Baskettail dragonfly – 6/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 2:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Common Baskettail dragonfly Scientific Name: Epitheca cynosura Comments: This is the most common baskettail within its range (eastern North America), hence the name. More Information: Wikipedia

Common Ringlet butterfly – 6/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Common Ringlet butterfly Scientific Name: Coenonympha tullia Comments: Ringlets can be found in a variety of grassy habitats, including roadsides, woodland edges and clearings, prairies, bogs, and arctic and alpine taiga and tundra. It is a poor flyer, but can sometimes be found along […]

Star of Bethlehem – 6/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 1:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Star of Bethlehem Scientific Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum Comments: The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing […]

Blue Toadflax – 5/31/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/11 Observation Time: 4:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blue Toadflax Scientific Name: Nuttallanthus canadensis More Information: Conn. Botanical Society

Blue Flag Iris – 5/31/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/11 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blue Flag Iris Scientific Name: Iris versicolor More Information: Wikipedia

Northern Flicker – 5/23/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/11 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Northern Flicker Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Comments: This northern flicker was injured, perhaps as a result of a hawk attack. The Northern Flicker is part of the genus Colaptes which encompasses 12 New-World woodpeckers. There are two living and one extinct subspecies of C. auratus species. The existing sub-species were at one […]

Starflower – 5/14/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/11 Observation Time: 2:05 p.m. Observation Location: Town conservation land near Beaver Brook Common Name: Starflower Scientific Name: Trientalis borealis Comments: This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May. Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation. More Information: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Wild Mustard – 5/12/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 8:35 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Wild mustard Scientific Name: Barbarea vulgaris Aiton Comments: Also called yellow rocket, or early winter cress, introduced from Eurasia. More Information: Wikipedia

Bird’s Foot Violet – 5/12/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: meadow near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Bird’s Foot Violet Scientific Name: Viola pedata Comments: The leaves of this pretty wildflower are reminiscent of bird’s feet. Not a common violet locally, only one site in Blue Hills. Likes dry sandy soils; has also been spotted in woods north of Knollwood Cemetery in Sharon. More Information: US Wildflowers […]

Hay-Scented Fern – 5/12/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 6:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Hay-scented Fern Scientific Name: Dennstaedtia punctilobula Comments: Hay-scented fern is very common in Sharon. It is often found growing in large colonies, forming a green carpet on the forest floor. It can be identified by its lacy, light-green fronds. It can be confused with New York fern, […]

Tussock Sedge – 5/12/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 6:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon boardwalk Common Name: Tussock Sedge Scientific Name: Carex stricta Comments: A clumping, upright sedge with narrow, yellowish green leaves. Reddish brown flowers bloom early summer. Prefers moist fertile soil but will tolerate dry or wet sites. More Information: North Creek Nurseries

Red Admiral butterfly – 5/7/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/11 Observation Time: 11:40 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Red Admirals prefer sap flows on trees, fermenting fruit, and bird droppings; visiting flowers only when these are not available. Then they will nectar at common milkweed, red clover, aster, and alfalfa, among others. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of […]

Eastern Towhee – 5/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/11 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern towhee Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: Towhees are the largest of the sparrows. They are quite common in Sharon. They have a distinctive call that sounds like “Drink your tea.” More Information: All About Birds.org

Tree Swallow – 5/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Tree swallow Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Comments: Tree swallows compete for bluebird nesting boxes. Bluebird house are often set out in pairs. One box gets taken by a pair of tree swallows. They drive other tree swallows away from the other box, but allow bluebirds to move in. More Information: […]

Short-tailed Weasel – 4/16/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/16/11 Observation Time: 7:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road behind Shaw’s Plaza Common Name: Short-tailed weasel Scientific Name: Mustela erminea Comments: White undersides (as opposed to cream-colored), white feet, and small size differentiate this road-kill specimen from a long-tailed weasel. Mink are all brown. Short-tailed weasel is also known as a stoat. In winter, they turn all white with a black-tipped tail, […]

Song Sparrow – 4/7/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/7/11 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer fields Common Name: Song Sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Comments: This song sparrow was gleaning seeds. Their distinctive, melodious song is a good one to memorize because it is so common. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Bald Eagle – 4/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/2/11 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Adult with white head and tail. Very distinctive! More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call

Ring-Necked Duck – 3/25/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/25/11 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavin’s Pond Common Name: Ring-necked Duck Scientific Name: Aythya collaris Comments: Ring-necked ducks migrate through Sharon, and can be seen in spring and fall. More Information: All About Birds: Ring-necked Duck

Wild Turkey – 3/18/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/18/11 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Wild Turkey Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo Comments: One of our largest and heaviest birds; smaller than a Trumpeter Swan; about twice the size (and four times as heavy) as a Ring-necked Pheasant. However, they can still fly. At night, groups of turkeys roost in trees. More Information: Cornell […]

Lead-Backed Salamander – 3/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Coach Lane Common Name: Lead-backed salamander Scientific Name: Plethodon cinereus Comments: The lead-backed salamander is a color variant of the red-backed salamander. They live under rotting logs. More Information: Fairfax County Public Schools

Garter Snake – 3/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Coach Lane Common Name: Garter Snake Scientific Name: Thamnophis sirtalis Comments: This is a common snake. It is harmless. More Information: Wikipedia Back to the Sightings List

Redwing Blackbird – 3/1/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/1/11 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Redwing blackbird Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus Comments: First redwing I’ve seen this season. The ground is blanketed in old snow and the pond is still frozen solid. In fall and winter they eat weedy seeds such as ragweed and cocklebur as well as native sunflowers and waste grains. More Information: All about Birds

Red-Bellied Woodpecker – 2/9/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 2/9/11 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Red-bellied Woodpecker Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus Comments: These birds have extended their breeding range north over the last 100 years. More Information: All About Birds

Carolina Wren – 1/30/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 1/30/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Carolina Wren Scientific Name: Thryothorus ludovicianus Comments: For more than 70 years, no Carolina Wrens were recorded during a Christmas Bird Count in Vermont. Then, in 1975, two were spotted. After being observed sporadically on subsequent counts, the bird began making regular appearances in 1991, and its numbers […]

Carolina Wren – 1/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 1/17/11 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: 284 Mountain Street Common Name: Carolina Wren Scientific Name: Thryothorus ludovicianus Comments: Following the SFOC walk on Martin Luther King Day (January 17), while sipping hot cider at Vera Cross’s house at about 3:40 p.m., a pair of Carolina wrens appeared out the window. It was only 20 degrees outside. The wrens were flitting in and […]

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