Since 2011, Central Coast Group-Birding NSW has run a competition to see who can see the most bird species in the Central Coast local government area.
This past year has produced remarkable results with Andy Robinson smashing the previous record of 272 set by Tim Faulkner back in 2013.
This year Robinson recorded 284 species.
Even the runner-up, Graham Nelson, broke the previous record with 273 species.
Group spokesperson Allan Benson said the Twitcher Award was started in 2011 to encourage birders to go birding, with 24 competitors participating in 2023.
“To win the competition requires a dedicated effort over the entire 12 months,” he said.
“Conditions this year have been ideal with the dry weather inland bringing many species rarely seen to the coast – Brown Songlark, Rufous Songlark, Pallid Cuckoo and White-winged Triller.
“In addition, the pelagic boat trips from Terrigal, organised by Andy, were blessed by good conditions and some remarkable sightings were recorded including Little Shearwater (fifth record for the Central Coast), White-Tailed Tropicbird (third record) and Streaked Shearwater.
“Andy’s dedication and persistence paid off when he made the first sighting for the Central Coast of a Broad-billed Sandpiper at the Tuggerah Bay salt marsh.
“He was also successfully finding Terek Sandpiper at two locations which were only the fifth and sixth records for the Central Coast.”