dFH: 60 pairs bred up to 1937 and parties of 11 seen in spring and up to 100 seen in autumn. Also 12 near Burpham on 1 December 1959.
Bred in decreasing numbers to early 1980s. Published records from 1980 are:
1980 One heard in east of county on March 25
Two at Sidlesham on May 10
Two pairs present at a traditional site but did not stay
One pair at another traditional site laid three eggs and still present to June 20. Success unknown
1981 One north-east over Selsey Bill on April 4
One heard at night over Rye Harbour on June 15
One at a western downland site on June 19
One pair present in the west of the county in same area as in 1980
1982 One north over Lancing on June 24
1983 One at Pagham Harbour on August 5
1984 One near Pagham Harbour on April 5
1986 One at Langney Point on September 11
1987 One near Cornish Farm, Beachy Head on August 8
1988 One at Glyne Gap on October 2
1990 One at Beachy Head on May 28
One at Rye Harbour on November 3
1991 One answering to tape on South Downs on March 29
One at Rye Harbour on June 20
One, possibly the same, at Pett Level on June 29
Two at Pett Level on July 3
1992 One at Selsey West Fields on October 9
1993 One at Pett Level on July 16
1994 One at Pagham Harbour on May 2
1995 One at Pett in late July and on August 1
One in fields on west side of lower Cuckmere Valley on September 10
1998 One was flushed by a dog at Pulborough Brooks on March 30
One flew south-west over the western side of the Cuckmere Valley, near Exceat Bridge on September 19
1999 One flew around calling and then north-east over Whitehawk Hill, Brighton in thick fog on April 4
2000 One came in off the sea at Splash Point, Seaford on March 19. It landed on the beach were it remained for an hour before being put off by the rising tide and continuing inland
2001 One at Castle Water, Rye Harbour from June 9 to 12
2003: One at Seaford Head (ES) on October 19
2004: One flushed at Pett Level (ES) on May 8
2005: One flew east over Roedean (ES) on March 18
One over Beachy Head (ES) on April 30
A pair present in suitable habitat from late June to early August but no evidence of breeding
One in a set-aside field at Beachy Head (ES) on August 17
2007: Licensed monitering produced one succesfull pair
One was a Pulborough Brooks (WS) on April 13
One was in fields at the southern end of Thorney Island (WS) on April 23
2008: Licensed monitering produced Two succesfull pairs
One on the Flat Beach at Rye Harbour LNR (ES) on April 18
2009: Licensed monitering of this re colonising species produced Two successfull pairs and and a single summering adult. Also two migrant birds.
2010: Licensed monitering again produced 2 pairs of which one pair was succesfull. Also a third un paired adult was present at one of these sites. Birds were also present at a further two sites where monitering was not possible and a passage migrant was also noted.
One bird was heard flying over during the night at Birdham (WS) on August 6
2011: The Stone Curlew Project again monitered 2 succesfull pairs. At one of the sites two other single birds were noted.
Two birds were also noted at another suitable site.
2012: One was between Angmering and Poling (WS) on February 12
The Stone Curlew project observed one nesting pair that failed on two attempts. Also Three individuals at another site were not seen to attempt to breed.
2013: Birds continue to attempt to recolonise Sussex
Migrant birds were one flushed from farmland on March 2
One at Hodcombe (ES) on April 7