Smithy
curiously enough, I find that it's generally easier to spot other traffic when turning in a thermal. The whole horizon is going past and a full scan is more comprehensive than when flying straight. Gliders are blessed with audio variometers (VSI's) to avoid the pilot having to look inside the cockpit when thermalling and the training is very heavy on maintaining a lookout.
Similarly it's much easier to see a turning glider because you get a full width wing flash at least twice per turn - it's the ones coming head on that are B***** to spot.
But I don't think I've ever seen the strobes on a powered aircraft before I've seen the a/c itself.