Rare Live Stream Offers Unique View Of Secretive Sussex Birds Of Prey

Wildlife enthusiasts are being given a rare insight into the lives of one of the UK's most elusive birds of prey thanks to a live stream from a nesting pair of honey buzzards in Sussex.

The birds, which have laid two eggs in woodland in Ashdown Forest, are being filmed around the clock as they incubate their eggs and prepare for the arrival of chicks.

Experts say it is the first time such detailed nesting behaviour has been captured for the species, which migrates thousands of miles from West Africa to breed in the UK each year.

Ash Walmsley, Head of Countryside at Ashdown Forest and leader of the project, described the footage as a "phenomenal" opportunity to learn more about the secretive birds.

The cameras have already revealed previously unseen behaviour, including a male honey buzzard remaining on the nest for 22 hours without a break.

There are thought to be just 130 to 150 breeding pairs of honey buzzards in the UK, with more than 20 pairs believed to nest in Sussex.

The project is a partnership between Ashdown Forest, the Sussex Ornithological Society and wildlife filming specialists Wildlife Windows.

To protect the birds, the exact location of the nest is being kept secret.

Conservationists hope the live stream will help people connect with nature while providing valuable insights into a species that remains little understood despite breeding in Britain every summer.