Moor Copse BBOWT reserve, 3 April 2009

Report and photos by Jan Haseler

The Berkshire Moth Group’s first field trip of 2009 was to Moor Copse on Friday 3 April. Moor Copse is a nature reserve of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) which lies in the lower Pang valley between Theale and Pangbourne.

The first light was next to a sallow on the bank of the River Pang in Hogmoor Copse. The sallow blossom was a little past its best, but the light still managed to attract 10 species of moth, including White-marked, Red Chestnut and Pale Pinion. The next light was at a ride junction further into Hogmoor Copse. 17 species were recorded here, including Purple Thorn, Twin-spotted Quaker, Powdered Quaker and the micro-moth Semioscopis steinkellneriana (Oecophoridae), a new record for the reserve.

Two lights were run at the entrance to River Meadow. The site was rather exposed, but still attracted 10 species, including Lunar Marbled Brown and the only Chocolate-tip of the evening. Another 2 lights were run in Park Wood. One was in the section which was coppiced during the winter of 2007-2008 and another was in an adjacent woodland ride. The 12 species recorded here included 2 Water Carpets and a Red Chestnut.

The final 2 lights were in Moor Copse (which is the name of a wood as well as the name of the whole reserve). The 20 species recorded here included 2 more White-markeds, a Water Carpet and an Early Tooth-striped.

Water Carpet, White-marked and Semioscopis steinkellneriana: