Sharon Friends of Conservation
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/4/09 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road opposite soccer fields Common Name: British Soldier Lichen Scientific Name: Cladonia cristatella More Information: Backyard Nature: Lichen Compare the British soldier lichen to the pink earth lichen below. These photos were taken at about the same time, and in the same area.
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/11/09 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Wood Duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comments: Brilliantly marked wood ducks are among our most beautiful birds (which is saying a lot), but they are easily spooked, so it’s hard to get close enough for a good photo. More Information: All About Birds.org
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/13/09 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Mass Bay Circuit Trail near Borderland State Park Common Name: Wood Frog Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica Comments: Very well camouflaged in center of photo. In case you were wondering how frogs survive the winter, check out this 2-minute time-lapse video of a frozen wood frog thawing out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofSdw5V21Ek More Information: Wikipedia
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/12/09 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Pink Earth lichen Scientific Name: Dibaeis baeomyces More Information: Lichens of North America
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/14/09 Observation Time: 11:20 a.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly Scientific Name: Calopteryx maculata Comments: Common along shallow forested streams. Adults perch on vegetation within a few feet of the water. Males are territorial and perform fluttering courtship displays. Females, which are bronze-colored with a distinctive white dot at the tops of their […]
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/5/09 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Trustees of Reservations 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. They are more common now than when the pilgrims […]
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/14/09 Observation Time: morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Trustees of Reservations land Common Name: Black Racer Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor Comments: Photos taken on Sunday, 6/14/09 at SFOC’s Biodiversity Day event at Trustees of Reservations on Moose Hill. More Information: UMass Amherst Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation
Read moreObserver: Rick Dumont Observation Date: 5/21/09 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Belcher St. Common Name: Raccoon Scientific Name: Procyon lotor Comments: The raccoon is mostly nocturnal. It is also solitary, except for mothers and their young. In the winter the raccoon may sleep in its den for a few weeks but it does not hibernate. The raccoons usually walks, but it can run at speeds […]
Read moreObserver: Rick Dumont Observation Date: 5/21/09 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club, Belcher St. Common Name: Green Frog Scientific Name: Lithobates clamitans Comments: This is one of our most familiar frogs and is found statewide. It has a green face and a green-brown body, and a ridge running down each of its sides. This species prefers permanent or semipermanent water bodies, eating whatever […]
Read moreObserver: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 5/20/09 Observation Time: 7:05 a.m. Observation Location: Lakeview Street Common Name: Coyote Scientific Name: Canis latrans Comments: At 7 AM on the mornings of 5/20 and 5/21 a single coyote was observed walking in our backyard. More Information: Nature Works
Read moreObserver: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 5/1/09 Observation Location: Beside the school admin building on School St. Common Name: Wood Duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comments: Yes, these ducks actually roost in trees! They nest in cavities in large trees. More Information: All About Birds.org
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/25/09 Observation time: 1:05 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook, Sharon (downstream of the wooden foot bridge near the tennis courts) Common Name: White Sucker Scientific Name: Catostomus commersoni Comments: White suckers in spawning frenzy in Beaver Brook, 4/25/09. Note the red stripes and erect dorsal fins. Suckers typically spawn for a few days sometime between April 15 and April 30. […]
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/25/09 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: Female (above) and male (below) More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”
Read moreObserver: Yujie Hu Observation Date: 3/25/09 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Saw Mill Pond Common Name: Mute Swan Scientific Name: Cygnus olor Comments: Our two sons spotted these two swans on the pond behind our back yard, and they have stayed for about a week; we hope they will make it their home. For more information about the pros and cons of swans, see: […]
Read moreObserver: Liz Dichiara Observation Date: 3/21/09 Observation Time: 5:45 p.m. Observation Location: Cheryl Drive Common Name: Wild Turkeys Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo Comments: Two beautiful males and five females walked through my wooded backyard today. The males were displaying to the females, who did not appear impressed. More Information: All About Birds: Wild Turkey
Read moreObserver: Rick Dumont Observation Date: 3/21/09 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Backyard near Bay Road Common Name: Northern Flicker Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Comments: Love the coloring… If you learn to recognize the distinctive call of the flicker, you will hear them frequently in wooded areas. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/19/09 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavin’s Pond Common Name: Ring-necked Duck Scientific Name: Aythya collaris Comments: I saw ring-necked ducks last spring at Gavins Pond. They must use Gavins Pond to rest and feed during their migration. More Information: All About Birds: Ring-necked Duck
Read moreObserver: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 2/24/09 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus More Information: All About Birds: Bald Eagle
Read moreObserver: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 2/18/09 Observation Time: Early afternoon Observation Location: Lake Massapoag across from Arboro Drive Common Name: Bald Eagle & Deer Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: A young bald eagle feeds on a deer carcass on the ice. More Information: All About Birds: Bald Eagle
Read moreObserver: Will Sweet Observation Date: 2/18/09 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Sharon Community Gardens Common Name: Red-shouldered hawk Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus Comments: The hawk was perched in a large dead tree. It flew across the gardens many times spooking robins and starlings. More Information: Whatbird.com: Red-shouldered Hawk
Read moreObserver: Will Sweet Observation Date: 2/15/09 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Backyard Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: The chickadees were knocking the Pine Siskins off of the thistle feeders. More Information: Whatbird.com
Read moreObserver: Michael Tranavitch Observation Date: 2/13/09 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Pine Street, Sharon Common Name: Fisher Scientific Name: Martes pennanti Comments: Appeared in backyard near deck. The fisher is the second largest member of the weasel family found in Massachusetts; only the river otter is larger. Although many people call them “fisher cats,” the name is inappropriate. They are neither members of the feline […]
Read moreObserver: Jeff Tatro Observation Date: 1/19/09 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag shore, 100 yd SSE of Yacht Club Beach Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Adult, big guy, plumage very clear. Perched 35 ft up in a tree, then took light toward Community Ctr. Positive ID! More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call
Read moreObserver: Will Sweet Observation Date: 1/11/09 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Backyard bird feeder Common Name: Pine Siskin Scientific Name: Carduelis pinus Comments: There was a flock of 43 Pine Siskins on my thistle feeders. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”
Read moreObserver: Josh Simons Observation Date: 1/1/09 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway Common Name: Tufted Titmouse Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor Comments: This and the junco and wren photos were all taken with a Canon 50D and a Canon 500mm f4 lens from the comfort of my kitchen on Moose Hill Parkway. We have feeders that attract lots of birds who land on a nearby […]
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