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hi Mike,
with the relatively cooler air predominating up here along the lowlands of the Cairns region since the 3rd week of Feb 2019, there has been a paucity of needletail and swift records. (this obviously excludes our local Aust Swiftlets).
the reason I've also included this note onto Birding-Aus this time Mike is because I had a good record of WTNT this past week, coinciding with the return of VERY HOT, sunny, still, and extremely humid conditions here since Wednesday.
as I've done throughout this summer/wet season for you, I have listed my most recent records of Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swifts and WTNT here...
17/02/19: 1030-1100am. Fork-t Swifts x 150+ above Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruise office, Lower Daintree, FNQ...
17/02/19: 645pm. Fork-t Swifts x 2 (minimum) above Capt Cook Hwy, Clifton Beach, FNQ...
18/02/19: 700pm. Fork-t Swifts x 450+ above Capt Cook Hwy, Clifton Beach, FNQ...
all seen hawking from 30mtrs asl to 500mtrs asl in very hot clear sunny still and humid conditions...
then none since...
13/03/19: 0745am. White-throiated Needletails x 11 (minimum) Red Cliff Point, just south of Wangetti Beach, between Cairns-Port Douglas, FNQ...
awesomely close views, biurds seen hawking from just above sea level over coastal water to just above clifftop 50mtrs asl, and feeding with them above clifftop were 2 x Dollarbirds..
I noticed a number of large winged queen green tree ants on my windscreen wipers just before the sighting, so I imagine that's what brought these big birds here!!
the weather pattern has since stayed and therefore I ewould xpect to see more FTS, and hopefully WTNT's as well in the next few days...
cheers,
martin cachard
solar whisper wildlife cruises, Lower Daintree, FNQ
& Trinity Beach, Cairns, FNQ
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