matthewdickerson.bsky.social
@matthewdickerson.bsky.social
I really enjoyed this conversation about rivers, fly fishing, ecology, and native fish with Katie for her Fish Untamed podcast. It’s a wonderful podcast with some great guests and topics.

www.fishuntamed.com/podcast/epis...

#flyfishing #riverecology #nativefish #alaska #dollyvardenchar #trout
Ep 166: Native Fish and Biodiversity, with Matthew Dickerson — Fish Untamed
Matthew Dickerson is a freelance writer who has published in The Drake , Backcountry Journal , American Fly Fishing , Written River , and Fly Fishing International. He has also written many book...
www.fishuntamed.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I made this 8 yrs ago as part of a series, after serving as artist-in-residence at Glacier NP. I watched again today, reminded of what a priceless treasure our national parks and public lands are. What a loss if they get sold & exploited. #glaciernationalpark #nationalparks

youtu.be/eorkWtTNUh0?...
Glacier National Park (and its Native Trout): An Introduction
YouTube video by Trout Downstream and Heart Streams
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Went for a walk in the woods this AM in between the rain and the predicted rain. We were surprised to find one of our neighbors hunting in our meadow not far from our house. But the neighbor seemed remarkably unsurprised and non-threatened by us. Perhaps it was visiting from #Narnia. #barredowl
October 22, 2025 at 1:14 PM
For those folks who appreciate the wisdom of #jrrtolkien and #middle-earth here is a new piece I had published just this morning on Tolkien’s insights gleaned in the 20th century and how he portrayed fascism and tyranny and capitalism in his writings: washingtoninst.org/capitalism-f...
Capitalism, Fascism, and the Wisdom of J.R.R. Tolkien | The Washington Institute
As last century wound to a close, author and scholar Tom Shippey published J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, one of the most important works in the field of Tolkien studies. In the book, Shippey ...
washingtoninst.org
October 9, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I am not a mushroom forager. I don’t know enough & don’t want to die or fry my brain. But these were in our backyard — 2 lbs! — and are considered one of four varieties safest to eat in terms of trustworthy ID. So #mushroom soup for dinner. I think Frodo, Merry, and Pippin would approve. #hobbits
September 27, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Camping at the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook, Quebec. A very beautiful place with some wonderful local food. The Foresta Lumina display after dark was delightful.
#easterntownships #coaticook #quebec
September 26, 2025 at 12:20 AM
The local goldenrod has seemed not only especially abundant this year, but also very bright in its namesake color. The pollinators — including northern paper wasps, common eastern bumblebees, and honeybees (all shown) — have been abundant and busy among them. It’s quite delightful and encouraging.
September 14, 2025 at 11:58 PM
“Birds in the Sky, Fish in the Sea”.
Sometimes they come together along the shore. It often ends badly for the fish, but as a fellow fisher I enjoyed watching these snow egrets foraging along the beach in Santa Barbara. #beaches #birds #snowegret #santabarbara

www.squarehalobooks.com/birds-fish
July 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I love my #vermont #backyard plopped down as it is near the edge of the green and often #mistymountains.

I had a nice visit from #Beorn yesterday. Obviously, in his other skin at the time. He must have known I’ve been brewing mead — thus making my house a sort of mead hall or Meduseld.
July 13, 2025 at 11:53 AM
My favorite two bird sightings of the summer (so far) … just minutes apart. Though the former of these is not as pleased with the presence of the latter.

#maine #baldeagle #loon
July 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
A wild brook trout caught this AM in a Green Mountain National Forest stream with winter wrens singing in the background to complement the symphony of the brook itself. A beautiful morning in a gorgeous place with a good friend standing on cold water on a hot day. #flyfishing @davoh.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 12:22 AM
A delightful day of small stream fishing for wild #brooktrout (char) with a good friend. We were in the shade almost the whole time and the water stayed cold even when air the got hot. State fish of Vermont. #flyfishing

@davoh.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Indigo bunting on a post in the garden. Although its song has been showing up on my Merlin app for two months, this was my first clear view -- and first chance to get a #birdphotograph that gives even a hint of the beauty of this bird.
June 24, 2025 at 2:27 AM
More #backyard #birdphotos. My 1st sighting of a beautiful ( aptly named) chestnut-sided warbler (a little deeper in the woods beyond the yard's edge). A chipping sparrow (in the cedar) and song sparrow (on the hammock) for comparison of two LBBs. And a gray catbird hunting worms in my garden.
June 19, 2025 at 2:10 AM
A recent essay I wrote about compassion in #TheHobbit (& also sympathy & empathy, none of which are toxic, and which are beautifully portrayed by #jrrtolkien ) for The Washington Institute — which was just published here: washingtoninst.org/the-hobbit-a...

Warning: there is some theology in it.
"The Hobbit" and Compassion (in an Increasingly Compassionless World) | The Washington Institute
“A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering.” ...
washingtoninst.org
June 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
It's been a fun summer getting to know birds in our forest--especially passerines whose songs I've heard for years, but never knew about. Much enjoyment just sitting outside listening, but Merlin & a 400mm lens have been great tools. Here are a 4 favorite photos of newly identified birds. ID below.
June 2, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Red-eyed Vireos in the woods around my house are enough better at hiding than I am at seeking that they keep chattering the whole time I’m looking for them. (That’s not a complaint!) Last evening, however, with my 400mm lens and tripod, I managed a long enough glimpse. #birding #vireo #vermont
May 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Reposted
I was interviewed by Radix magazine ostensibly about #jrrtolkien & the #inklings. It turned to conversation about a range of topics esp. virtues of gentleness & empathy valued by Tolkien but disdained by the Saurons, Sarumans, and fallen Denethors of the world. www.radixmagazine.com/2025/04/30/m...
Meekness Is Not Weakness: Matthew Dickerson on Living Gently and Thinking Deeply – Radix Magazine
www.radixmagazine.com
May 7, 2025 at 11:36 PM
#eveningwalk in the Vermont woods with spring ephemerals: Dutchman’s breeches, trout lily, red & white trillium.

#jrrtolkien was famous for his love of trees. I also appreciate his descriptions of flowers. His wise characters notices them. If these were in #middle-earth what would you name them?
April 27, 2025 at 11:37 PM
The red maples are blossoming in Vermont—seen here against the setting of the sun over the forest and an #eveningsky on our #eveningwalk.
Hepatica, a favorite early spring ephemeral, was also staring to pop up on the trails through the woods.

#blossoms #wildflowers #spring
April 10, 2025 at 1:03 AM
The red maples are blossoming in Vermont—seen here against the setting of the sun over the forest and an #eveningsky on our #eveningwalk.
Hepatica, a favorite early spring ephemeral, was also staring to pop up on the trails through the woods.

#blossoms #wildflowers #spring
April 10, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I had a wonderful day in Great Smokey Mountain National Parks. Our national parks are treasures to be valued and protected--as are those who work in them. More than merely delight and wonder, they offer learning, healing landscapes, forests to refresh aquifers for the clean water we all need.
March 22, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Celebrate well, my friends.
3.14
Enough said.


Acknowledgements: fresh, homemade pie courtesy of my wonderful partner.
March 14, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Another restful and soul-restoring Sabbath rest day in the woods and Nordic trails of Rikert and the Green Mountain National Forest. Groves of hemlock, then spruce and pine, and then maple, with scatterings of yellow birch, beech, black cherry. Sadly, I saw no ents or entwives.
February 24, 2025 at 1:13 AM