Sightings – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Green Frog – 5/28/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 12:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Green Frog Scientific Name: Lithobates clamitans Comments: This is one of our most familiar frogs, and is found statewide. It has some green on its face and a mostly brown body, with a ridge running down each side of its back. This species prefers permanent or semipermanent water […]

Prairie Warbler – 5/28/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 11:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) – under the power lines Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are found in scrubby fields and forest edges throughout the eastern and south-central United States. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, the prairie warbler nests in Sharon and […]

Golden Ragwort – 5/28/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (under high tension wires) Common Name: Golden Ragwort Scientific Name: Senecio aureus (also known as Packera aurea) Comments: Golden Ragwort is a biannual plant with yellow-orange flowers. It grows to a height of 2 feet and belongs to Asteraceae family (i.e. asters). More Information: Grow Native

Black Swallowtail butterfly – 5/28/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 11:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush swallowtail butterflies. You can learn how to tell the difference between a black swallowtail and a spicebush swallowtail at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus There is also a good discussion of how to tell the differences among […]

Indigo Bunting – 5/28/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo Buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than when the pilgrims first […]

Rust Fungus – 5/28/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/28/23 Observation Time: 9:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Rust Fungus Scientific Name: genus Pucciniaceae Comments: Rust fungus is a plant disease. This rust fungus was growing on buckthorn leaves. More Information: Wikipedia

Baltimore Oriole (female or immature male) – 5/25/23

Observer: Punitha Hanumantha Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Fales Rd., Sharon Common Name: Baltimore Oriole (female or immature male) Scientific Name: Icterus galbula Comments: Baltimore Orioles seek out ripe fruit. Cut oranges in half and hang them from trees to invite orioles into your yard. Special oriole feeders filled with sugar water supplement the flower nectar that Baltimore Orioles gather. You can […]

Indigo Bunting – 5/25/23

Observer: Punitha Hanumantha Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Fales Rd., Sharon Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo Buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than when the pilgrims first landed. […]

Swan’s Sedge – 5/25/23

Observer: John Baur Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 12:26 p.m. Observation Location: trail off Lakeview St. Common Name: Swan’s Sedge Scientific Name: Carex swanii Comments: A diverse array of grass species can be found in Sharon. More Information: iNaturalist

Little Wood Satyr butterfly – 5/25/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 7:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Little Wood Satyr butterfly Scientific Name: Megisto cymela Comments: As the name implies, the wood satyr is most commonly seen in woods and shrubby areas. More Information: Wikipedia

White-edged Sedge – 5/25/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: White-edged Sedge Scientific Name: Carex debilis Comments: The drooping seed stalks are characteristic. More Information: Go Botany

Poison Sumac – 5/25/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/25/23 Observation Time: 6:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (wetland boardwalk) Common Name: Poison Sumac Scientific Name: Toxicodendron vernix Comments: Everyone should learn to identify poison sumac and avoid contact with it. As both its common name and its scientific name suggest, the leaves of this plant can cause an itchy rash. Poison sumac is often found in […]

Worn-eating Warbler – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Worm-eating Warbler Scientific Name: Helmitheros vermivorum Comments: The worm-eating warbler is so-named because it eats caterpillars. It overwinters in Central America and Caribbean islands. Unlike most other warbler species that pass through Sharon on their spring and fall migrations to and from their breeding areas farther north, worm-eating warblers only […]

Gray Catbird – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary Common Name: Gray Catbird Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis Comments: Catbirds are one of three mimics in our area. Mockingbirds and Brown Thrashers are the other two. Catbirds repeat sounds just once, whereas Brown Thrashers repeat sounds twice, and Mockingbirds repeat them three or four times before moving on to the next […]

Indigo Bunting – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo Buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than when the pilgrims […]

Siberian Iris – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:25 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Siberian Iris Scientific Name: Iris siberica Comments: These gaudy flowers are non-native. They are typically purple, but they come in a range of colors including white. More Information: Wikipedia

Northern Waterthrush – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Northern Waterthrush Scientific Name: Parkesia noveboracensis Comments: The northern waterthrush is actually a type of warbler. It looks a lot like an ovenbird, which is also a warbler. This one was seen along the boardwalk through the wetlands at Moose Hill. More Information: All About Birds

Alder Buckthorn – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 7:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Alder Buckthorn Scientific Name: Frangula alnus Comments: Alder buckthorn, also known as glossy buckthorn, is a tall shrub. I saw a hummingbird moving from tiny blossom to tiny blossom. Otherwise I probably would not have noticed that it was in bloom. I also saw some […]

Sapphire Berry – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Sapphire Berry Scientific Name: Synplocos paniculata Comments: Sapphire Berry is a non-native shrub. Since it is a non-native species that spreads and displaces native plants, the specimen shown in the photo will be removed. More Information: Wikipedia

Bay-breasted Warbler – 5/23/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 6:20 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Bay-breasted Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga castanea Comments: Bay-breasted warblers migrate through Sharon in May en route to their summertime breeding areas in Canada. They eat insects and spiders to keep up their energy during the long flight. Even for experienced bird watchers, bay-breasted warblers are an unusual find. […]

Cuckoo Bee – 5/21/23

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/21/23 Observation Time: 3:05 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Cuckoo Bee Scientific Name: Nomada maculata Comments: Cuckoo bees lay their eggs in the colonies of other species of bees so they do not have to raise their own young, much as cuckoo birds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. More Information: Wikipedia

Wool Sower Gall Wasp – 5/21/23

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/21/23 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Wool Sower Gall Wasp Scientific Name: Callirhytis seminator Comments: Pink-spotted, white cottony wool sower galls are about the size of a ping-pong ball and are produced by a tiny species of Cynipid wasp, Callirhytis seminator, and are most commonly found on white oaks. More Information: The UnderStory

Green Frog – 5/21/23

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/21/23 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Green Frog Scientific Name: Lithobates clamitans Comments: This is one of our most familiar frogs, and is found statewide. It has some green on its face and a mostly brown body, with a ridge running down each side of its back. This species prefers permanent or semipermanent water […]

Pearl Crescent Butterfly – 5/21/23

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/21/23 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Pearl Crescent butterfly Scientific Name: Phyciodes tharos Comments: Adults find nectar from a great variety of flowers including dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd’s needle, asters, and winter cress. Males patrol open areas for females. The eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars […]

Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly – 5/21/23

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 5/21/23 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: Like many small butterflies, the Eastern tailed blue is a stunning sight when viewed up close. The upper sides of the wings are blue. They appear in spring. The orange spots and “tails” on the trailing edge of their […]

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