JPLayers 1980 Journal Grid 3, NARE, Barrow, Alaska 17 June It looks as if a melanoto Hot spot is developing here. On 14 June there were 3 J's on the grid. This afternoon it is at least 5, and most importantly, Newer melanotos 99. See melanoto sp: account. Dunes on the grid from 1630-1950. Moderate NE wind at 10 mph, temp 35°F. No clouds. 18 June 0300-0700 tracking a female & melanotos with an incomplete clutch. We have divided up the day to get her 24hr continuously until her clutch is complete. At 1200-1400 storm yesterday she had 2c, at 1600 3. Display activity continued on all birds throughout evening, although the period 0300-0400 seemed rather quiet. It was a sunny windless night with the temperature dropping to 20°F by 0600 (ice on a few ponds). See melanoto account and tracking data for details of clutch. 1500-1730 I took my second shift. By then the wind had come up and clouds over. Temperature rose also, however, to ~38°F, making matters a bit more favorable. The female laid her 4th egg around 1600. 19 June Tracked a f from 0400 to 0500 after going out at 0300. The tundra this morning was much as yesterday am. Bright, low wind, temp ~0°C. Birds displaying throughout. The Pluvialis dominica situation is intriguing - see phenology note on this species. Phenologically the tundra program as ever - a smattering of 2 Phaeopus fulicarius have begun to appear. Carex is greening, Salix pulchra has put out catkins, the Pedicularis bracteata blossoms are flowering; and of course Ranunculus rivalis is in full bloom. Thus the creamy snow and lati melt appear not to have retarded progress too much. In fact this must be due to the very atypical cloudless, fogless weather that has dominated here. Recall the series of days at Atkasook with persistent SW winds. These were seen here at Barrow as well. The net effect of the weather has been to produce a melt-off schedule that is not any later than 1978, which was the latest year in my experience (75-80). Comparing snow cover data from