Big British Garden Birdwatch 2023 - NOT amateur radio

This is organised by the RSPB every January. The idea is simple. You count the maximum number of each species seen at the same time in your garden, park etc. for any hour over the weekend and submit this. From these returns, the RSPB can learn a great deal about the birds around.

Certainly here, there are fewer smaller birds around. It is not uncommon to see 6-12 different species, but it is unusual to see that many different small birds. There are far more pigeons that in the past.

I do it every year. It is surprising what appears over the hour.

UPDATE 1625z:   Just 6 species seen!  Way down on previous years. Most of these were larger birds. Some very common birds were missing. Overall? January!! Dull and cold.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ .

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 For a change, I am on 10m QRP FT8. The band is very busy.

Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today

UPDATE 1317z: 28 stations have spotted my QRP and 411 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX (see map).

Ely Cathedral in the mist - NOT amateur radio

You can see why they call this "the ship of the fens". This photo was on social media recently. 

Apparently there are hardly any foundations. Remember, there were no JCBs when this was made in medieval times. It is the only medieval wonder of the world in the UK I think. 

Ely cathedral is built on high ground above what was once marshy ground. Hence the name "isle of Ely".

2013 - 136 kHz QRSS

 

This was 10 years ago when I was doing QRSS tests on 2200m.

Sunspots - Saturday January 28th 2023

Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 84. A=9 and K=2.

St John's College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This was St John's earlier today.

The bikes and posters (on the railings to the right and just out of the photo) are very Cambridge!! 

AGMs and Zoom

Just now, I attended the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) AGM by Zoom. This was a hybrid meeting with some there in person and some remotely via Zoom. I no longer (if I can avoid it) drive at night.

As for previous lectures, the Zoom worked really well, including voting by putting a hand up.

This hybrid format really suits me as I can take an active part in club activities even though unable to get in. In the past we have had speakers and listeners across oceans.

OFCOM publications update

Every week OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc..  See the OFCOM website for details.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

A few moments ago I switched on the 8m FT8 QRP TX. This was about 1025z.

UPDATE 1840z:  No spots today on TX and RX.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Friday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX was turned on at 0946z.

UPDATE 1006z:  3 spots from the Canary Is so far this morning.

UPDATE 1603z:  17 stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP today. (see table.).