Mega - White-throated Needletail- Motueka.

[Steve Wood]

Between 15:15 - 16:00 hrs on my Lower Moutere property, I was treated to a rather special sighting of 80+ (conservatively) but could be as many as over 100+ birds, circling in a relatively tight spiral, approximately 150 meters high, heading in a SW direction.

It started off with at least 12 birds feeding over the garden trees tops (50m) and occasionally witnessing two birds chasing each other in tight formation. They hung around for 5+ minutes and whilst searching for them, to hopefully reappear, I noticed the large "swarm" of birds up higher.

I checked as many individuals as possible with a pair of borrowed Bi nos from the neighbor and were all of this species.

A truly extraordinary sight... I wish you could have witnessed it

keep looking up... they are possible coming your way

[Adam C]

Wow! That is some news!

[Roblyn]

I’m at the golf course again tomorrow. I’ll have my camera with me this time!

[harryhatman]

Wow! Totally wow!

[Tim Barnard]

The most spectacular garden record I've heard of ... I suspect it will never be beaten.

[andrewcrossland]

I was up in Motueka (Kaiteriteri) over Waitangi weekend and searched every likely spot between Marahau and the Kina golfcourse and didn't see a one. Maybe I wasn't looking high enough? I'm just gonna go and throw my binocs away now and hang my head in shame!! (got the Wood Ducks though...)

[Steve Wood]

I haven't been available for watching very much since the small invasion on the 13th.However tonight at 20:15- 20 :30 there were 4 more birds seen circling/feeding in the same area. Hard to say whether they have been here all this time or new birds coming in.

It is unclear why they seem to favor this site ( if at all they do )as it isn't anything special from the neighboring properties, mixture of lifestyle blocks on a small foot hill (50 m altitude) pasture and forested gullies.
I will check the area tomorrow evening again but there is rain forecast for tomorrow.

[Steve Wood]

I know this might be getting a bit tedious for some but -
25 WTN right now over property amongst the drizzle.
All over in 5 min. I Stayed till 18:10

[Michael Szabo]

There are reports in the literature for this species that they have been recorded roosting on cliff faces. There is a cliff face at Kina Cliffs near where these sightings come from and there is an earlier record of this species being seen at Kina Cliffs, so it might be worth local birders checking out Kina Cliffs for them towards dusk (time of day they go to roost).

[Grahame]

I have just had a text from Paul G saying that he has 20+ W-t Needletails over Stoneybridge Motueka, and would like to thank Steve Woods and his father Bert.
Cheers, Grahame