Walking the woods and brooks of western Massachusetts.
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nprofile1qqsvv5y5fusnqwmqtlawnta0r9psfkhgr3fsy478tyxh0jfzmxjplwcpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerfw36x7tnsw43qzkdfnz
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2026-10-30T12:48:53Z Event JSON
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"content": "{\"name\":\"Dan McCullough\",\"about\":\"Walking the woods and brooks of western Massachusetts. \\n\\nEnvironmental Educator for 18 years. Taught mycology workshops and researched nesting bird and salamander populations.\\n\\nMost photos taken the week of posting.\",\"picture\":\"https://ecoevo-social.s3.de.io.cloud.ovh.net/accounts/avatars/113/936/442/181/074/023/original/8616349ea8f69cbf.png\",\"banner\":\"https://ecoevo-social.s3.de.io.cloud.ovh.net/accounts/headers/113/936/442/181/074/023/original/35d064b6b140a389.jpeg\",\"nip05\":\"[email protected] \",\"fields\":[[\"š\",\"#15SecondsOfFame #PorcupineBridge\"],[\"Cat\",\"Pippin (2007-2026) Rest well little friend, youāre missed. #PippinStories\"]]}" ,
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Last Notes npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SnakesOnMyFirewood #Snakes #Snake npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Apparently, WHEREVER I AM in the yard, Iām in the way of the female Eastern Phoebe building her nest. Or at least thatās the current status of side-eyes Iām getting. š
npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Look what, or who, I found attached to a wooden sawhorse behind my shed. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Weād like to welcome a first time visitor to our yard. Give it up forā¦ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Inventory of lovely spring plants in my yard: npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SilentSunday npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough When I was growing up, my grandmother had a garden where she kept butterfly-attracting plants. In the middle was a birdfeeder. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough @nprofileā¦dyu0 Pippin had anā¦ odd skill set. š¤ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Pippin story #6. She is very missed. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough My Wife: Iāve seen reports that bears are up and about. Time to bring in the feeder. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Our little friendās fort has seen better days, but still she defends it. š„¹ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Caught a bobcat on the trailcam carefully placing its paws in the footprints I had made a couple days before in the deep snow. When it gets to where I turned around, it looks around and decides - nope, not going out there, and turns to go down to the brook. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I thought I would share some of Pippinās stories. She is very missed. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Nothing like having a happy puppy, errā¦ happy donkey, errā¦ happy deer (?!) running through knee-deep snow to greet you! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The only thing tougher than building a fort is defending it. (Part 1) npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough @nprofileā¦nekg Thinking of you laughing just made me laugh again. I think Iām going to have to make Pancake Squirrel wallpaper for my phone. š npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough @nprofileā¦nekg š¤ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough About 16 inches of snow here (and still snowing!) Not much to show as everything is a mass of white marshmallows and I am still waiting for the plow. In the meantime enjoy these tracks of āPancake Squirrelā doing a little circle that included a bellyflop. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Mid January. 38Ā° F / 3Ā°C. Did not expect to see this little friend quite yet. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I often find myself on old logging roads. They were once wide, straight, alleys in the woods where large equipment crossed, grooving deep furrows, keeping green growth at bay and stomping each stone, leaf, and lichen covered branch out of sight. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Itās a new year and Pippin has decided itās finally time to show off her rarely seen white belly fur. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough If youāre traveling this week, remember to stop at all crossings and look both ways beforeā¦ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough November is the Witch Hazelās time to shine. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough @nprofileā¦4unj Yes, this is how I think of them. š¬ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I recorded this with video but there was something about just hearing birdsong and a rhythmic creaking of tall, toothpick-like pine trees that I found made me feel much more part of the forest. So now itās just audio. Turn up volume. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SilentSunday npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Competing with the bright autumn leaves. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough A Tomato Hornworm voraciously eating my entire yard. I donāt recall ever seeing one this color. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Even at 18 and lots of floof, Pippin doesnāt take up a lot of space. But the space she DOES take up is always in the middle. š
npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough For those of you who have dreamed about combining mushrooms and 19th century fashion, please consider: npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Off-roading Woolly Bear. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Today is Pippinās 18th birthday! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Look whoās back for second breakfast. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The forestās color palette šØ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Feverfew (minus the petals) npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Baby Porcupine was out for a daytime adventure! š npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The suspension of disbeleaf. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The following little beasties paid a visit: npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough A few weeks ago my 17 year old cat decided it was time to co-opt my tea table. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Look whoās making sure we see his new antlers! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SilentSunday npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough My new friend visited again. Sheās been flying on and off the deck handrail the last few days. Look at that sweet face! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough @nprofileā¦gu6d I wish! No, the size isnāt easy to see in the photo, but theyāre only an inch or so large. And thin, almost like a sheet of paper. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The good news: my shiitake mushroom log finally grew mushrooms! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough What annoyed Pippin enough that she had to sit up and peer out the window? (You may remember the correct answer from a few weeks ago.) npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Nope, nothing to see here. Just us dingy, gray leaves. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough 4 little beasties! (Just got autocorrected to ābestiesā so they can be that too.) š npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Off-trail amongst the large rock formations that seem to be around every corner in the woods of New England. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SilentSunday npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough True, it may seem boring at first glance, but there are few species of fungi that come inā¦ blue. (āFountain Blueā if you go by itās Hex #.) š npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Had a nice visit with a Long-tailed Skimmer [Plathemis lydia] dragonfly. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I get weird things on my deck. A mass of these fashionable striped crawly bugs showed up suddenly, all clumped together. I came back in 15 minutes and they were ALL GONE. Not a trace, just poof, vanished. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I had a feeling this porcupine toddler was going to be a handful! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Globe Thistles are wonderfully strange flowers that attract pollinators. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough At the local farm to pick up my share and see that two of the parking spots are taken. Thankfully they left me one. š npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough It seems we have a bold one! Baby Porcupine (more like Toddler Porcupine) ventured out without mom, during the day. Maybe itās just practicing going over Porcupine Bridge but I think this one is going to be a HANDFUL. š npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Bark Beetles are the ouija boards of the woods. They have a lot to sayā¦ you just have to wait for them to say it. š Their wisdom should be heeded at all times. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I love the color orange so Iām a big fan of Butterfly Weed. One thing Iāve observed is how much Fritillary Butterflies also love it. Theyāre orange. Skippers love it and many of them are orange. Monarchs and Viceroys too. Milkweed Bugs also rock the orange. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SilentSunday npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough At 17, Pippin is past the days of caring about all the baby birds screeching, whistling, and otherwise causing shenanigans in the yard. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough My wife: āPerhaps you could expand your social circles.ā npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough This is one dapper little spider! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough We have SO MANY Ebony Jewelwing Damselflies right now. They spend hours landing on rocks in the brook, then come up to the yard to spend hours on the ferns. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough This is an important PSA (Porcupine Service Announcement) npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough A cluster of gummy worms, I mean Swamp Beacon mushrooms [Mitrula paludosa] and a solitary one. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Along the trail, thereās a spot where ground water creates a small pool about the size of a placemat. Thereās always this one froggo in it splashing and going at it like itās the greatest place in the world. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough MAJOR UPDATE at Porcupine Bridge! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I did another ā10 Minute Bioblitzā yesterday and discovered: npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Contrary to first glance, this was not created by AI. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Look what I found on my walk to the protests on Saturday! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The fireflies are here! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The Merlin bird app should have a feature called āLittle Jerk Detector,ā where you point your phone toward a canopy of leaves and it would help you find the Little Jerk hidden up there. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough This part of the forest was doing its best impression of a sculpture park. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The Mountain Laurel is beginning to bloom in some of the sunnier spots. Not on my property yet, but hopefully soon. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough When itās 90Ā° itās nice to have a small friend whoāll share its rock in the middle of the brook. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Okay, show of handsā¦ how many of us have wondered how a porcupine scratches an itch? npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The Eastern Phoebe babies are here! npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SilentSunday npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The Ragged Robins have been in fine form this season. Which is a change from last year when the severest part of the drought kept them at bay. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Youāre thinking Iāve run out of ideas and Iām just posting a pile of leaves. But these arenāt just any leaves. These are the result of āThe Snipper.ā That squirrel in the second photo? Thatās The Snipper. A determined little beastie with a thing for Red Maple winged seeds. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough During a storm last year, we had a huge section of a hemlock snap off and fall directly atop the brook, creating a gnarly walkway for animals that might want to traverse it. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough The warmer temps have brought the chipmunks and snakes out of their hidey-holes, which in turn brought out this interested party. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough āIām ignoring you.ā npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Took a trek to my old stomping grounds in Concord, Massachusetts. There are so many large areas to explore, but the trails are often a mishmash of marked and unmarked trails, private property and historical landmarks, that getting turned around (aka ālostā) is quite easy. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Little blobs of Witchās Butter jelly mushrooms trying to find leg room amongst the shield lichen. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough With this part of the US in drought every day of the past year, the ~3 inches of rain the last 72 hours has been needed. The brook has quickly risen and is several feet higher in places. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough In case you were wondering if the porcupine was still using the little bridge my wife builtā¦ npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Pippin has her āsenior checkupā with the vet on Monday and is trying to convince me that transporting her in the laundry basket would be perfectly acceptable. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough āItās like, how much more green could this be? And the answer is none. None more green.ā npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough She did it! It took the Eastern Phoebe just one week to rebuild her nest that was damaged over the winter. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Over the weekend I made a quick trip to my hometown on the coast of Maine and spent some time barefoot in the sand and tide pools. My magical place growing up, a magical place still. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough #SilentSunday npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough A few alternative mushroom pics from the last month. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough With the temp hitting 68Ā°f/20Ā°c, we grabbed a couple chairs from the shed and set them out on the deck. I waited to see who would be this springās First Friend.* npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Bogs always make me feel better. Toss in a spectacular boardwalk and a massive rock formation, and, well, it was a good day. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Getting the side-eye from a pair of Hermit Thrushes as it continues to snow. āThis was NOT on our bingo card when we migrated here.ā npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough Tucked away in its little cave of stone and moss. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough I returned to the scene of the juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that was squawking up a storm in my physical therapistās parking lot last week. And I brought a better camera. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough 3 fingers and a thumb. npub1cegfgnepxqakqhl6axh67x2rqndws8znqftuwkgdwlyj9kdyr7asw33rmp Dan McCullough They may not be spring ephemerals, but the color of old mushrooms can still dazzle.
