Silchester Walls - 8th April 2006

Silchester has always been one of the Society's favourite walking location and it didn't disappoint, as the photos show.

The old Roman ruins have been explored by archaeologists for many years but the perimeter flint walls provide a wonderful, elevated path around quite a considerable area of open farmland.

On the northern side there are some farm buildings and a very quaint old church, which is well worth the walk to see and close by is a very well preserved earth-bank amphitheater.

Pamber Forest walk - 15th July 2006

A gloriously sunny day set the scene for the anniversary return to Pamber Forest. Pamber Forest has always had a close association with the society and it was here that we met for one of our first recorded field trips. So, it seemed appropriate that we return to celebrate. The walk was lead by Chris Raper & Malcolm Storey, though for the first half we went around in 2 groups due to some members arriving a little late from their lunchtime festivities!

We saw a nice female Purple Emperor in the carpark as we waited for everyone to arrive and no more than 200 yards into the forest we saw Silver-washed Fritillarys chasing each other around a sunny glade by the brook. Out on the heathy bits we saw a lot of Purple Hairstreaks flitting around the Oaks and even saw a few at ground level around the edges of damper paths.

Butterflies seen on our walk in Pamber Forest

Comma (above); Purple Hairstreak (right); and Purple Emperor (above right).

Mothing at Upper Basildon (RDNHS Meeting) - 22nd July 2006

(report by Norman Hall)

The Reading & District Natural History Society held a mothing evening in Bethesda Street, Upper Basildon on 22nd July at the home of the Society's secretary. Between 20 and 30 members and guests attended the event. Four mothing lights were used and the catches were good despite the cool evening, which followed heavy rain in the afternoon. The total cloud cover and lack of wind made up for this. Such was the interest that most participants stayed till about 2AM -- and several till 3AM!

67 species of larger moths (macrolepidoptera) were recorded, the most notable being Striped Lychnis (nationally scarce) and Small Mottled Willow (a migrant). 103 species were recorded including the microlepidoptera.