Nature Walk at Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Fungi Edition!
I took a peaceful walk around Chestnut Hill Reservoir on a cool, sunny day. The reservoir was calm, reflecting the sky and surrounding trees. During the walk, I focused on observing a variety of plant life, fungi, lichens, and a few animals. Below are the highlights of my observations:
Foliose Lichen – On a nearby rock, I found a large patch of foliose lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata). The pale green, leaf-like structures spread in beautiful patterns across the surface, indicating the air quality in the area is quite good.
Yellow Lichen on Tree Bark – I observed a striking patch of yellow lichen (Xanthoria parietina) growing on the bark of an old tree. The bright yellow-orange color stood out vividly against the dark bark, making it one of the most visually interesting finds of the day.
Canada Goose – As I walked along the water’s edge, I encountered a solitary Canada goose (Branta canadensis) standing on the bank. It was calmly surveying the reservoir, its familiar black head and white chinstrap clearly visible.
Mute Swan – Further out in the water, I noticed a graceful Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). It was preening, delicately grooming its feathers. The elegant white bird was reflected in the still water, making for a serene and memorable sight.
Crust Fungus on Decaying Wood – Deep in the wooded section near the reservoir, I came across a decaying log with crust fungus (Stereum hirsutum). The fungi formed rough, plate-like structures along the length of the log, slowly breaking down the wood.
Eastern Gray Squirrel – Toward the end of my walk, an Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) caught my eye as it perched high on a tree branch. It watched me for a moment before continuing to forage for food.
Mica Cap Mushroom (Coprinellus micaceus) – At the base of a tree, I discovered a small cluster of mica cap mushrooms.
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