I visited Troop Island for the second time this year on August 2. The weather was iffy with showers the day before and the day after the trip but the trip itself had fine weather, mostly cloudy bright with a few bursts of sun. 23 folks expressed interest in the trip but many did not show up. We had two boats and I left with two others on the first departure at 8AM with Beth McGee tasked to be the skipper once again.  My companion on the trek was Petra Mudie. She kept me on the move and tasked me to observe and take photographs as she led the way.

Petra Mudie

Petra MudiePetra Mudie

The following map shows the route we followed during the circuit of the island.

Troop Island Route

Troop Island August 2 RouteTroop Island August 2 Route

The water level in the bog north of the pond was low so we were able to navigate through although we had to avoid the potholes which can swallow a water buffalo.

The shoreline although scenic was not easy to walk even at low tide. The after effects of wind and surf were evident.

The West Side Shoreline

Troop Island Western ShorelineTroop Island Western Shoreline

East Side Shoreline

Troop Island Eastern ShorelineTroop Island Eastern Shoreline

Storm Tossed Flotsum West Side Beach

Troop Island Western ShorelineTroop Island Western Shoreline

South-east Shoreline

Troop Island Shoreline at the South Shore BeachTroop Island Shoreline at the South Shore Beach

Dodder(Cuscuta sp) and Hair Cap Moss

Dodder(Cuscata sp) and Hair Cap MossDodder(Cuscata sp) and Hair Cap Moss

Marsh St. John's Wort(likely Triadenum virginicum)

Marsh St. John's WortMarsh St. John's Wort

Moss sp.

Moss sp.Moss sp.

Willow Herb(Epilobium sp., possibly E. ciliatum, Fringed Willow Herb)

Willow Herb(Epilobium sp., possibly E. ciliatum, Fringed Willow Herb)Willow Herb(Epilobium sp., possibly E. ciliatum, Fringed Willow Herb)

Bog Cranberry

Bog CranberryBog Cranberry

Bog Cranberry

Bog CranberryBog Cranberry

Seneca pseudo-arnica

Seneca pseudo-arnicaSeneca pseudo-arnica

Seneca pseudo-arnica

Seneca pseudo-arnicaSeneca pseudo-arnica

Old Man's Beard, Usnea

Old Man's Beard, UsneaOld Man's Beard, Usnea

Virginia Ctenucha Moth

Virginia Ctenucha MothVirginia Ctenucha Moth

The following photo of the Virginia Ctenucha Moth was not taken on Troop Island but on my front porch several years ago. I include it here to show the beauty of this critter.

Virginia Ctenucha Moth

Virginia Ctenucha MothVirginia Ctenucha Moth

Acorn Barnacle

Acorn BarnacleAcorn Barnacle

Bracket Fungus

Bracket FungusBracket Fungus

Bracket Fungus

Bracket FungusBracket Fungus

Butter and Eggs

Butter and EggsButter and Eggs

Butter and Eggs

Butter and EggsButter and Eggs

Canada Hawkweed

Canada HawkweedCanada Hawkweed

Green Dead Man's Fingers, Codium Fragile Green Fleece Algae

Green Dead Man's Fingers, Codium Fragile Green Fleece AlgaeGreen Dead Man's Fingers, Codium Fragile Green Fleece Algae

Indian Pipe

IndianPipe15

Indian Pipe

IndianPipe16

Mushroom sp.

Mushroom sp.Mushroom sp.

Seapea

Sea PeaSea Pea

The Roof of the Old Growth Forest

The Roof of the Old Growth ForestThe Roof of the Old Growth Forest

In the Dark Forest Were Three Fairies

Three Forest FairiesThree Forest Fairies

Yellow Birch

Yellow BirchYellow Birch

John Himmelman in the Yellow Birch

John Himmelman in the Yellow BirchJohn Himmelman in the Yellow Birch

John Himmelman in the Yellow Birch

John Himmelman in the Yellow BirchJohn Himmelman in the Yellow Birch

The North-east Corner of the Bog, North of the Pond

The North-east Corner of the Bog, North of the Pond, Troop IslandThe North-east Corner of the Bog, North of the Pond, Troop Island

The North-east Corner of the Bog, North of the Pond

The North-east Corner of the Bog, North of the Pond, Troop IslandThe North-east Corner of the Bog, North of the Pond, Troop Island

The Bog, North of the Pond

The Bog North of the Pond, Troop IslandThe Bog North of the Pond, Troop Island

The Bog, North of the Pond

The Bog North of the Pond, Troop IslandThe Bog North of the Pond, Troop Island

The Bog, North of the Pond

The Bog North of the Pond, Troop IslandThe Bog North of the Pond, Troop Island

Flotsom at the East End of the Pond

Flotsom at the East End of the Pond, Troop IslandFlotsom at the East End of the Pond, Troop Island

The Pond Looking to the West

The Pond Looking to the West, Troop IslandThe Pond Looking to the West, Troop Island

Amanita muscaria

Amanita MuscariaAmanita Muscaria

Sea Milkwort(Glaux maritima)

Sea Milkwort(Glaux maritima)Sea Milkwort(Glaux maritima)

Moss sp.

Moss sp.Moss sp.

Cinquefoil

CinquefoilCinquefoil

Hair Cap Moss

Hair Cap MossHair Cap Moss

Bedstraw(Galium obtusum)

BedstrawBedstraw

Suaeda sp, (probably seablite-S. Maritima)

Suaeda sp.,(probably seablite-S. Maritima)Suaeda sp.,(probably seablite-S. Maritima)

Mint-Mentha arvensis

Mint-Mentha arvensisMint-Mentha arvensis

Marsh Skullcap(Scutellaria galericulata)

Marsh Skullcap(Scuttellaria galericulata)Marsh Skullcap(Scuttellaria galericulata)

Seaside Grass

Seaside GrassSeaside Grass

Senecio Vulgaris or S, jacobaea or Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Senecio Vulgaris or S, jacobaea or Ambrosia artemisiifoliaSenecio Vulgaris or S, jacobaea or Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Mint-Mentha arvensis

Mint-Mentha arvensisMint-Mentha arvensis

Beach Pea and Sea Rocket-Cakile edentuala, a Brassicaceae

Beach Pea and Sea Rocket-Cakile edentuala, a BrassicaceaeBeach Pea and Sea Rocket-Cakile edentuala, a Brassicaceae

Seaside Grass

Seaside GrassSeaside Grass

Unidentified 25

UnidentifedUnidentifed

Moss Sp.

Moss sp.Moss sp.

Sedge, possibly Carex sp

Sedge, possibly Carex sp.Sedge, possibly Carex sp.

Marsh Skullcap(Scutellaria galericulata)

Marsh Skullcap(Scutellaria galericulata)Marsh Skullcap(Scutellaria galericulata)

Beach Pea-Lathyrus maritimus

Beach Pea-Lathyrus maritimusBeach Pea-Lathyrus maritimus

Unidentified 30

UnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 31, Moth in Sea Weeds

Unidentifed Moth and Sea WeedUnidentifed Moth and Sea Weed

Senecio Vulgaris or S, jacobaea or Ambrosia artemisiifolia or Clamy Groundsel(Seneca Viscosus)

Senecio Vulgaris or S, jacobaea or Ambrosia artemisiifolia or Clamy Groundsel(Seneca Viscosus)Senecio Vulgaris or S, jacobaea or Ambrosia artemisiifolia or Clamy Groundsel(Seneca Viscosus)

Unidentified 33

UnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 34

UnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 35

UnidentifedUnidentifed

Suaeda sp, (probably seablite-S. Maritima)

Suaeda sp, (probably seablite-S. Maritima)Suaeda sp, (probably seablite-S. Maritima)

Unidentified 37

Hair Cap MossHair Cap Moss

Unidentified 38

UnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 39

UnidentifedUnidentifed

Plaintain sp.

Plaintain sp.Plaintain sp.

Sea Lavender-Limonium carolinianum

Sea Lavender-Limonium carolinianumSea Lavender-Limonium carolinianum

Petra says that this plant is rare in Nova Scotia. I used a macro lens to photograph it but unfortunately these lenses when shooting close to a subject have almost no depth of field.

Glasswort-Salicornia sp

Glasswort-Salicornia spGlasswort-Salicornia sp

Glasswort-Salicornia sp

Glasswort-Salicornia spGlasswort-Salicornia sp

I was not active in searching for birds as Petra keep me too busy but Bob McDonald has a complete list, which I've copied here. I've also included a few additions.

Troop Island Bird List
Updated 3 August 2014

1. American black duck
2. Long-tailed duck
3. Red-breasted merganser
4. Common loon
5. Double-crested cormorant
6. Great cormorant
7. Great blue heron
8. Osprey
9. Bald eagle
10. Black guillemot
11. Herring gull
12. Iceland gull
13. Great black-backed gull
14. Belted kingfisher
15. Downy woodpecker
16. Pileated woodpecker
17. Blue jay
18. American crow
19. Common raven
20. Black-capped chickadee
21. Red-breasted nuthatch
22. Brown creeper
23. Golden-crowned kinglet
24. Swainson’s thrush
25. Northern Parula
26. Black-throated Green Warbler
27. Song sparrow
28. American goldfinch
29. Black-backed woodpecker/(Picoides arcticus)…?/, plus I've added the following:
30. Spotted Sandpiper
31. Willet
32. Common Tern-fly by
33. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
34. Northern Flicker
35. Hermit Thrush
36. Dark-eyed Junco

Petra and I completed our circuit in about three and one half hours. I was exhausted after hobbling around on a bad knee but I think Petra could have repeated the loop without problem.

It was a memorable excursion with fine company on the trail and gorgeous weather. Even the insects were not too bad.