White storks believed to be from Sussex spotted in Cornwall

Adrian Langdon was one of 20 people on Looe Island, a mile off mainland Cornwall, who spotted the flock of birds flying overhead on August 20.

People were stunned by the sight (Image: Adrian Langdon)

The wildlife photographer from Wadebridge was taking part in a seal survey when he spotted the “staggering” sight of 72 white storks in the sky.

The birds are believed to have travelled from a rewilding project being carried out at the Knepp Estate near Horsham.

Adrian, who has been a wildlife photographer for 50 years, said: "It was unbelievable and because it's such an irregular occurrence it makes it pretty special.

A white stork in Poland (Image: Adrian Langdon)

"We were just looking at the rocks with seals on them, counting their numbers and the birds whilst we were there too.

"But had we not received word there were some storks coming down the coast, we probably wouldn't have looked vertically up so it is likely we wouldn't have seen them.

"I quickly put the telescope on them and quite surprisingly picked them up coming down around Seaton.

"I called everyone on the island and we all shared binoculars.

"There were a lot of us to witness it and it was great to share such an experience with others."

Read more: Birds once lost from Britain brought back and how you can be a part of their return

Adrian said the white storks came down almost into Looe, then directly over the island.

He was watching the birds with his group for around 45 minutes and said they just drifted and circled overhead.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust also posted about the sightings, saying: “What a treat for our marine team who are currently undertaking the annual Looe Island survey.

“Were you one of the lucky ones that witnessed this incredibly rare sight too?”

The white storks in Cornwall (Image: Adrian Langdon)

The birds are believed to have carried on south west, roosted on Predannack Airfield on The Lizard peninsula and then flown up the north coast of the county.

"They are probably getting their location right for if they do migrate traditionally white storks migrate to Spain and north Africa, then they will mix up with other ones and increase the gene pool,” Adrian said.

"Though not all migrate, some will stay in the UK over winter

"I have been lucky to photograph a lot of storks this year, it has been fantastic."

Adrian has captured white storks elsewhere in the world (Image: Adrian Langdon)

The White Stork Project aims to re-establish a wild breeding population of the birds in the UK.

The project says: “White storks live in colonies for safety in numbers and their failure to breed in the UK over the last few centuries is thought to be largely because there has been no nesting colony to provide security for visiting migrants.”

The hope is that all the offspring will return to Knepp or Wadhurst once they are four to five years old and ready to nest.