OUT!! #11: I Don't Like Your Dog('s Crap)

I'm sorry. I just had to be blunt about it.

I just returned a few hours ago from Callahan State Park in Framingham and am happy to report that I've added two more bird species to my life list. It was a lovely excursion through thickets and woods that yielded many common species such as Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata), Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), a Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), and the two new species, a well-hidden, but calling Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia novaboracensis) and a juvenile Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) foraging with some titmice near the southern end of park.

It was a lovely experience overall, but something just bothered me as I was leaving.

A present? For me? You shouldn't have!

At the start of each trail, there are a multitude of signs that indicate that not only should dogs be on the leash at all times, but that thine owners should clean up their crap as well. I have a problem with the doggy bag theory to begin with, but what bothered me more is that even though the park provides these bags free of charge, whoever came through here with their canine companion either forgot that their beloved, furry friend had just shat in the woods and they had left it there unintentionally, or (and I hope this isn't true) they truly didn't give a crap about the crap that had been left there. You'll be glad to know, I disposed of it in the trash upon my return to the parking lot.

Earlier in my travels, I arrived at the southern parking lot of Callahan where an open meadow leads to an earthen dam that overlooks the surrounding woods and fields, as well as a nearby golf course. I would have been able to enjoy this walk further when I saw something I rarely find pleasing. A large group of dogs that were off the leash. It seems it doesn't matter that there are signs everywhere that say "Keep dogs on leash at all times." because unless people are enforcing the rules, it really doesn't matter. I find this particularly troubling because I have a slight anxiety towards large groups of dogs (usually four or more) and want to stay the hell away from them when I'm alone. Especially when I'm alone. This stems mainly from bad experiences with Doberman Pinchers and larger groups of dogs when walking afield, but I digress.

Even when something can spoil your day, you can always find something to end it on a good note.
In my haste to get away from this group of canine botherers, I went up a forested side trail and found to my surprise, a bevy of small songbirds just waiting to be watched and counted. There were Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) everywhere, as well as a few White-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) and even more Black-capped Chickadees. The biggest surprise however came when I looked up into a pine sapling in front of me to see a small, yellow warbler. Not a Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) mind you. I've seen enough of them to know what they are. What struck me was its yellow supercilium, white outlining the wings, olive back, and yellowish underparts. I wrote down these details and looked them up on my iTouch version of the Sibley Guide. I smiled as I recognized the features that pointed to either a juvenile or dull female Tennessee Warbler. Another life bird for me! Despite the canine marauders and a lowly bag of dog crap, I still managed to enjoy myself and picked up two more for the list.