Heald and Bradley Ponds Reserve

GLLT - Heald and Bradley Ponds Reserve Hike
January 22, 2014

Location

Aerial view of the trek via Google Earth. Note orientation. Start of trail on left (southern point of trail).

Our path (in pink) superimposed on GLLT map. Surprisingly good correspondence.
Go here to see the path superimposed on an 1858 map of Oxford County.

Hike Summary

Notes and Photos

Trailhead at Mill Brook mill site

Proof of pileated woodpecker activity. Bottom hole is about 15" top-to-bottom.

Piece of pileated woodpecker scat found beneath hole in above photo. (about 1" long)

Exciting !! These are most likely Jack O'Lantern mushrooms (Omphalotus olearius). They appear similar in shape and color to chanterelles, but are growing on wood. Jack O'Lanterns get their name because they emit a greenish glow in the dark. Lawrence Millman (author of my favorite mushroom book) says "Don't be a jackass" and eat these poisonous mushrooms that cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sweating. Leigh - if you collect one on Friday, you can see the glow in a darkened room for 40 to 50 hours after collection (according to Millman).

Puzzle - twisted shape in tree.

Just pretty.