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 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 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 ShorelineTroop Island Western Shoreline

East Side Shoreline

Troop Island Eastern ShorelineTroop Island Eastern ShorelineTroop Island Eastern Shoreline

Storm Tossed Flotsum West Side Beach

 

Troop Island Western ShorelineTroop Island Western ShorelineTroop Island Western Shoreline

South-east Shoreline

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

Unidentified 1

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

Unidentified 2

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

Unidentified 3

Moss sp.Moss sp.Moss sp.

Unidentified 4

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)

Unidentified 5, Bog Cranberry?

Bog CranberryBog CranberryBog Cranberry

Unidentified 6, Bog Cranberry?

Bog CranberryBog CranberryBog Cranberry

Unidentified 7

Seneca pseudo-arnicaSeneca pseudo-arnicaSeneca pseudo-arnica

Unidentified 8

Seneca pseudo-arnicaSeneca pseudo-arnicaSeneca pseudo-arnica

Old Man's Beard, Usnea

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

Virginia Ctenucha Moth

Virginia Ctenucha MothVirginia 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 MothVirginia Ctenucha Moth

Acorn Barnacle?

Acorn BarnacleAcorn BarnacleAcorn Barnacle

Bracket Fungus

Bracket FungusBracket FungusBracket Fungus

Bracket Fungus

Bracket FungusBracket FungusBracket Fungus

Butter and Eggs

Butter and EggsButter and EggsButter and Eggs

Butter and Eggs

Butter and EggsButter and EggsButter and Eggs

Canada Hawkweed

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

Indian Pipe

IndianPipe15IndianPipe15

Indian Pipe

IndianPipe16IndianPipe16

Unidentified 9

Mushroom sp.Mushroom sp.Mushroom sp.

Seapea

Sea PeaSea PeaSea Pea

The Roof of the Old Growth Forest

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

In the Dark Forest Were Three Fairies

Three Forest FairiesThree Forest FairiesThree Forest Fairies

Unidentified 10, The Mother Tree

Yellow BirchYellow BirchYellow Birch

John Himmelman in the Mother Tree

John Himmelman in the Yellow BirchJohn Himmelman in the Yellow BirchJohn Himmelman in the Yellow Birch John Himmelman in the Yellow BirchJohn 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 IslandThe Pond Looking to the West, Troop Island

Unidentifed 11

Amanita MuscariaAmanita MuscariaAmanita Muscaria

Unidentifed 12

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

Unidentifed 13

Moss sp.Moss sp.Moss sp.

Cinquefoil

CinquefoilCinquefoilCinquefoil

Unidentified 14

Hair Cap MossHair Cap MossHair Cap Moss

Unidentified 15

Hair Cap MossHair Cap MossHair Cap Moss

Unidentified 16

BedstrawBedstrawBedstraw

Unidentified 17

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

Unidentified 18

Mint-Mentha arvensisMint-Mentha arvensisMint-Mentha arvensis

Unidentified 19

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

Unidentified 20

Seaside GrassSeaside GrassSeaside Grass

Unidentified 21

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

Unidentified 22

Mint-Mentha arvensisMint-Mentha arvensisMint-Mentha arvensis

Unidentified 23

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

Unidentified 24

Seaside GrassSeaside GrassSeaside Grass

Unidentified 25

UnidentifedUnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 26

Moss sp.Moss sp.Moss sp.

Unidentified 27

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

Unidentified 28

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

Unidentified 29

Beach Pea-Lathyrus maritimusBeach Pea-Lathyrus maritimusBeach Pea-Lathyrus maritimus

Unidentified 30

UnidentifedUnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 31, Moth in Sea Weeds

Unidentifed Moth and Sea WeedUnidentifed Moth and Sea WeedUnidentifed Moth and Sea Weed

Unidentified 32

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

UnidentifedUnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 34

UnidentifedUnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 35

UnidentifedUnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 36

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

Unidentified 37

Hair Cap MossHair Cap MossHair Cap Moss

Unidentified 38

UnidentifedUnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 39

UnidentifedUnidentifedUnidentifed

Unidentified 40

Plaintain sp.Plaintain sp.Plaintain sp.

Unidentified 41

Sea Lavender-Limonium carolinianumSea 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. She told me the name of the plant but I didn't keep notes.

Unidentified 42

Glasswort-Salicornia spGlasswort-Salicornia spGlasswort-Salicornia sp

Unidentified 43, Same as Above

Glasswort-Salicornia spGlasswort-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. Common 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.

Hans Toom
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