Bird watchers in Cornwall were delighted by an “incredibly rare” sight last week when more than 70 white storks flew down the south coast.

The unusual sighting was witnessed by photographer Adrian Langdon among others.

He was taking part in a seal survey on Looe Island, as part of a Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust project, when the flock few directly overhead.

He estimated that there were more than 70 storks, which are believed to have travelled from a rewilding project being carried out in Knepp in West Sussex.

Adrian said: “They flew directly overhead. I know they're from the Knepp rewilding project, nevertheless an amazing sight to watch them drifting overhead.”

Storks flying above Looe Island (Image: Adrian Langdon)

He went on to describe it as “one of those events that will never be forgotten.”

Sightings were also reported at Predannack on the Lizard Peninsula on Tuesday evening, where they are understood to have landed for a time, as well as Land’s End.

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 storks flying over (Image: Adrian Langdon)

The charity has asked that any sightings last week or going forward be recorded and submitted to their team at the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS).

This monitors Cornish wildlife and can be accessed via https://erccis.org.uk/

The White Stork Project

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

The project website states: “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.”

Photographer Adrian Langdon captured the 'rare sighting' (Image: Adrian Langdon)

Inspired by stork reintroduction programmes in Sweden and other parts of Europe, the project was founded in 2016 with the introduction of non-flying white storks from Poland - rescued following accidents with powerlines and roads - which were donated by Warsaw Zoo.

Some of these birds are kept at Cotswold Wildlife Park, and every year their offspring are brought to pens at Knepp Estate in West Sussex and Wadhurst Park in East Sussex, where they spend a couple of weeks to develop site loyalty, before being released into the wild.

More than 70 storks flew over (Image: Adrian Langdon)

Some have joined wild white storks on migration across Europe, going as far as North Africa, although a number have already returned home to breed.

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, bringing with them other wild white storks.