hello.
the only way you can tell the difference in maple to sycamore is through a microscope.
they are much the same, although american maple has a slight pink quality about it.
if the log is exposed to the weather it has already started to discolour!! quater saw asap. then stand the wedges on the ends in a dry place, the same day of cutting. can de outdoors.but must be undercover.
glue up the top end but NOT the bottom..this allows the wedges to drain.
if cut spot on the 1/4 you will get mudullery ray as figure.
the smaller bits then need to be kiln dried..that is another story!!
the more figure the log has the more i am interested
i live in east sussex though.
if you do came accross a "flamed" log, cut and processed correctly it can be worth a lot of £££££££££.
hope this has been of some help....good luck!!!