JPLayers 1976 Journal TRANSECTS 6-10, Barrow, Alaska 12 June 4W 38°, at 41° by afternoon. Light SE wind. 70% clouds (a high cover with visions of a storm to the south). TRANSECT OVERALL TOTALS (see transect accent for detail) TIME 230 minute 50 ha C. alpina 24 .48 C. bairdii 4.4 .08 C. melanocephala 219 .38 PSOrela (all) 22 = .1/min C. posilla 2 .04 Stercorarius pom 3 .06 Average snow cover over all transects - 53% Calcarius lap. 35 .7 Plectrophenax n. 2 .04 Phulicarius 8 2 4 2 Several things of note. First, melt off is proceeding at livelunch pace, being as witnessed by the average, 53%. This compares to 79% for 8 June. When it has not melted, it is a slushy snow, save in some ponds which have yet to surface. As I was covering transect 6-8, players flew over, one golden and two slightly smaller. My mind flashed back upon seeing the torpedo-ish flight quality and the dramatic dark breast-light belly contrast. But as they were flying overhead I got only a poor, momentary look. They continued on to past gaslin ridge, a seven through chased them, I could not find them. So I returned to the transect. Then at 12:30 on tran 8, unit 10, there they were, a pair of Eudromias! See app. accent. 3rd - Throughout the day flocks of 4 melanotos flew to the NE - In fact there were 8 flocks ranging from 2-14 (most around 5), totaling 48 birds. Amazing. See app accent. Finally, I walked back to POW 'WAIN' via Beach ridge, past FAP's old study area. The plovers are thick and obvious everyday - saw pomarin jaegers. Two snowy owls at opposite extremes of the ridge, and throughout the morning, short-eared owls displaying overhead. They appear to be spread along the ridge, 2 on Gaslin, 2 on Beach above Barrow Marsh. One notable fact of the tundra this year, due probably to the early melt and light accumulation of snow, is how dry the area is. One can walk most places with impunity, fearing neither water nor much.