First post for me, Ive only just found/joined this forum/site.
Took my son to Kinsdown leas this Saturday, in the hope of sighting the target species(LTB).
We arrived on site at approx 10.45am and stayed for approx 4 hours. Like the other enthusiasts there, despite searching the area, we couldnt find any LTB's. We did see red admiral, common blue(worn male), adonis blue(male), chalk hill blue(female), small whites, a possible speckled wood, silver Y moth, angle shades moth, large brownish purple caterpillar, small light brown/white caterpillar. Also good numbers of common lizard(both adult, sub-adult, and the juveniles(probably born august 2013). As well as a wasp spider,and both kestrel and sparrowhawk.
Great to meet up/chat with fellow enthusiasts, speaking mainly to Paul, and later in the afternoon Suzie.
My thoughts on the day are, that there was certainly enough people on site looking for this butterfly. If they were there? then Im pretty sure one of us would have got a sighting. The conditions were best before lunch, when the wind was not that strong, and there were good spells of sunshine. If the other usual species were seen/photographed basking with wings spread, then Im sure the LTB's would have also mirrored this behaviour too.
I really dont think that those LTB's were there anymore, i think they have relocated(either naturally) or moved off site by the "Netter"!!!
Ive read through this thread, and the user name/member "millerd" saw with his own eyes, a male with a net...So its not just a "windup" or "chinese whispers" then, a netter was seen by at least one member of this forum. We all talked about this phantom netter, and we all came to the same conclusion...if this guy did take these rare butterflies from Kingsdown leas, then he spoilt it for a great many enthusiasts(and thats putting it mildly)...which is unlike me, but hey, Im a "newbie" on this forum...I dont know the limitations on bad/foul language on here
I didnt have to travel too far(110mile round trip) but some of the people there, came from far greater distances!
Will I make the trip again? sure i would...but best get down there rapid, when the emerging LTB's are fresh!