Sunspots - Thursday May 16th 2019

Solar flux today is 73 and the sunspot number 13. A=6 and K=2.

Portugal Birds - NOT amateur radio

Bird spotting in Portugal continues. As well as masses of storks today I spotted cattle egrets and a grey shrike as well as lots I could not identify. I was hoping to spot a bee-eater, but no luck so far. I've seen them in Spain before, so was hoping to catch at least one here.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_bee-eater

Chapel of Bones - NOT amateur radio

This macabre but fascinating Chapel of Bones in Evora, Portugal is plastered with the skulls and bones of 5000 monks. It was created in the 17th century and aims to encourage people to contemplate their own mortality.

Dayton

17-19 MAY : DAYTON HAMVENTION

Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, Dayton, Ohio.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Little things please little minds! - NOT amateur radio

This sign, seen today in Portugal, amused me. I think it is actually to do with key cutting.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 15th 2019

Solar flux is 74 today and the SSN 24. A=36 and K=1.

70cm activity contest this evening

Starting at 1900z (8pm UK clock time) is the May leg of the RSGB's 70cm UKAC activity contest. SSB activity is better than usual and even 5W to a 2m halo usually gets me QSOs up to over 100km.

Lisbon trams - NOT amateur radio

Lisbon, built on 7 hills like Rome, is famous for its old trams.

It suffered a major earthquake in 1755.

Solar Cycle 25 predictions

This is getting more like BREXIT everyday with major disagreements amongst the "experts".

They all seem to agree that the size of the next solar peak will be similar to the last one, but there are major disagreements about the depth and length of the preceding minimum.

See https://www.weather.gov/news/190504-sun-activity-in-solar-cycle

HF beams

A few days ago I reported seeing no HF beams in Portugal. Yesterday, I saw 2. Perhaps they are more affluent further south?