WNTs at Brooms Head

Yeah g’day Mike Very large flock of White-throated Needletails at a cool, overcast Brooms Head for about thirty minutes from 8.30am before dropping off, 10 January. Would estimate 200+over and near the house, but they could be seen as far as the naked eye over the heath to the south. Many were down at roof height and some below the house (we are on top of the high dune above the beach) and out over the ocean, as well as up to very high. Some 45 minutes after first noticed, the numbers seen were much reduced perhaps to 50, and they were more dispersed with none down low. The Welcome Swallows (see below) have gone. At 9.20, an actual count showed 16, and we seemed to be left with stragglers. But about 9.35, 50-60 congregated over a small area not far from the house. By 9.45, they were none to be seen. I’ve not commented before, but today it was very noticeable that the Welcome Swallows and some Tree Martins were out in numbers, and mixing with the Needletails at the lower levels. As the Needletails dispersed and went higher, the Swallows also seemed to move higher, occupying the vacated space. Peter and Bev Morgan The conservation battle is never finally won; the development battle is.