MacLean 1968 Journal (22 May) Not much else but some wild Alaskan drivers. Returned to Eagle Creek to find most of the area snow covered and more falling. A quick dinner, and so to bed. 23 May Eagle Creek, Alaska Awoke to clearing weather, but still below freezing and the ground snow covered. Set out with the Ptarmigan crew towards Mastodon Dome - first up the (steep and slippery) face of South Hill directly behind camp, then along the ridge. Virtually no bird activity. Once atop the hill the ptarmiganers realized that it would be nigh impossible to get an accurate count of white birds sitting quietly on a snowy background, and headed back towards main study area. I continued on along the ridges to look for surfbirds. Climbed up to the top of Mastodon Dome (4318 ft.). Very quiet - passerines were present, but not singing. Found a pair of snow buntings on the slope of Mastodon Dome. Turned back toward North, and finally saw my first surfbird at 0755 (started out at 4:00 A.M.). About this time the sun broke through and it began to warm up. Snow, which was very dry and powdery, began to disappear - more by sublimation than by melting. As the snow disappeared the passerine activity increased, and by mid-morning longspurs