Into the Rain: A Morning in the Mushroom and Squirrel World - Oct 11, 2025

For the second day in a row, I pulled myself out of bed early and stepped out into the rainy, overcast morning. The forest was damp and quiet—perfect conditions to explore a tiny world that most people walk right past: the magical realm of mushrooms and slugs.

As I wandered slowly beneath the dripping canopy, something unexpected caught my attention: a soft, rhythmic chewing sound. I turned to find a gorgeous little juvenile squirrel perched nearby, happily nibbling on a pine cone. He wasn’t afraid of me at all. In fact, he calmly kept an eye on me while continuing his breakfast, completely unbothered by my presence. At one point, he even looked down at Finnegan below, curious but relaxed.

Did You Know?

Squirrels are expert pine cone foragers! When they eat pine cones, they methodically peel away each scale to reach the nutritious seeds inside—much like how we eat corn on the cob. These seeds are packed with fat and protein, making them a vital food source to build up energy reserves for the colder months. If you find piles of stripped pine cone cores at the base of trees, it’s a sure sign that a squirrel has been busy feasting nearby.

It was an incredible moment. Electricity ran through my body as I snapped a few portraits of him—these are the encounters that make me fall in love with wildlife photography over and over again.

There’s something about this time of year that fills me up from the inside out: the fiery colors of the fall leaves, the crisp freshness of the air, and the scent of wet forest floor. It quiets my mind and renews my soul. I love fall. Just love it.

Finnegan is doing wonderfully on his walks—he’s learning so much and seems to love helping me look for mushrooms. Having my Aunt along was also a gift; she’s an excellent mushroom spotter. On several occasions, I walked right by incredible fungi that were hiding in plain sight until she pointed them out. It’s humbling to realize how much I miss when I’m in my usual fast wildlife-photographer mode.

With wildlife, I’m used to constantly being on alert, ready to move at an instant. But with nature photography—especially mushrooms—it’s the opposite. You have to slow down, stop, and truly look. It’s a new kind of rhythm for me, and honestly, a challenging one.

Did You Know?

Coral fungi (genus Ramaria) get their name from their striking resemblance to ocean coral! These delicate, branching mushrooms often pop up on the forest floor during the wet fall season, breaking down decaying wood and returning nutrients to the soil. Their intricate structure makes them fascinating subjects for close-up photography—but tricky to spot if you’re moving too fast through the woods.

Photographing mushrooms isn’t easy. They’re often tucked away on the wet ground, half-hidden beneath leaves and branches. Capturing interesting photos takes real focus and skill. I’m not necessarily aiming for “art photos,” but for interesting photos—images that make people notice this hidden world. It’s harder than it looks. I’m still working on getting the details just right, but every step into this world fascinates me more.

Did You Know?

Red-belted conks can live for decades, adding a new growth layer each year like tree rings! As they slowly decompose fallen logs and dead trees, they recycle nutrients back into the forest ecosystem, making them unsung heroes of the woodland floor.

Red-Belted Conk

Mushrooms only reveal themselves in this way during the wet season, which makes these rainy fall mornings feel even more special. When I immerse myself in photographing them, the chaos of the outside world fades away. There’s only the forest, the quiet patter of rain, and the thrill of discovery.

These are the mornings that remind me why I do this.