Isle Royale — May 2024

May 23, 2024 · Isle Royale National Park, MI

Day 1 · May 23

Wood frog.
Wood frog.
Skull with survey tag 01.
Skull with survey tag 01.
Bones laid out for the survey.
Bones laid out for the survey.

Approx. distance: about 10 miles.

Observed: Western Rattlesnake Plantain, Wood Frog.

Day 2 · May 24

Morning camp in the hardwoods.
Morning camp in the hardwoods.
Jaw with the LV X2 2024 tag.
Jaw with the LV X2 2024 tag.
Beaver pond crossing.
Beaver pond crossing.
Moss-covered bone.
Moss-covered bone.

Approx. distance: about 4.5 miles.

Observed: Hackledmesh Weavers, kidneyleaf white violet, Scarlet Elfcup.

Day 3 · May 25

Marsh marigolds.
Marsh marigolds.
Inland lake and Lake Superior from the ridge.
Inland lake and Lake Superior from the ridge.
Moose skull.
Moose skull.
Camp at dusk.
Camp at dusk.

Approx. distance: about 5 miles.

Observed: fringed polygala, Virginia strawberry, Northern Cranesbill, Amygdaloideae, round-lobed hepatica.

Day 4 · May 26

Crossing a waterfall.
Crossing a waterfall.
Last light on the shoreline.
Last light on the shoreline.
Common loon.
Common loon.

Approx. distance: about 7 miles.

Observed: Dark Fishing Spider, Great Horned Owl, flowering plants, American Beaver, Cedar Waxwing, gray reindeer lichen, red columbine, tamarack, Common Loon.

Day 5 · May 27

Island off the shore.
Island off the shore.
Bones laid out in rows.
Bones laid out in rows.
Mirage on Lake Superior.
Mirage on Lake Superior.
Mossy bone.
Mossy bone.

Approx. distance: about 5 miles.

Observed: Moose, gold-and-brown rove beetle, Northern Azure, Waltzing Fly, Phormia, Orange-legged Furrow Bee, Winter tick.

Day 6 · May 28

Wild columbine.
Wild columbine.
Fish in the shallows.
Fish in the shallows.
Red fox.
Red fox.
Moose skull in the grass.
Moose skull in the grass.

Approx. distance: about 8 miles.

Observed: tamarack, meadow buttercup, Red Fox, Moose.

Day 7 · May 29

Ducklings in the reeds.
Ducklings in the reeds.
Mallard hen with ducklings.
Mallard hen with ducklings.
Red-eyed vireo.
Red-eyed vireo.
Hiking out.
Hiking out.

Approx. distance: about 9 miles.

Observed: Mallard, Red-eyed Vireo, thimbleberry, wild sarsaparilla, alternate-leaved dogwood, broad-leaved dock, showy mountain-ash, red baneberry, red-berried elder.