Dr Richard Bate
@thenewgalaxy.bsky.social
That guy who found a ghost #orchid
Botanist with particular interest in British & European #Orchids. Tour leader for Mariposa Nature and member of #Wildflowerhour team
Have placed #dental implants since 2009, favouring Southern site-specific systems
Botanist with particular interest in British & European #Orchids. Tour leader for Mariposa Nature and member of #Wildflowerhour team
Have placed #dental implants since 2009, favouring Southern site-specific systems
3/11/25 Cumbria - I've historically disregarded the excitement associated with descriptions of white forms of Ballerina #Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis f. nivalis) because they often fade with time
Well that all changed today, this pair of fresh examples almost completely lacking color
Well that all changed today, this pair of fresh examples almost completely lacking color
November 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
3/11/25 Cumbria - I've historically disregarded the excitement associated with descriptions of white forms of Ballerina #Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis f. nivalis) because they often fade with time
Well that all changed today, this pair of fresh examples almost completely lacking color
Well that all changed today, this pair of fresh examples almost completely lacking color
Halloween aside, I don’t long too much for spooky encounters but finding a Ghost #Orchid here in the UK was one I craved for over three decades
October 31, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Halloween aside, I don’t long too much for spooky encounters but finding a Ghost #Orchid here in the UK was one I craved for over three decades
Enjoying a long weekend away in the Derbyshire Dales and taking plenty of opportunities to check out the Grassland #Fungi round here! #Waxcaps and Spindles galore, and many other #chegd beauties too! Thoroughly enjoying the #WildFungiHour
October 26, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Enjoying a long weekend away in the Derbyshire Dales and taking plenty of opportunities to check out the Grassland #Fungi round here! #Waxcaps and Spindles galore, and many other #chegd beauties too! Thoroughly enjoying the #WildFungiHour
4/10/25 #Madeira - Madeira Chaffinch (Fringilla maderensis) taking a bath in a levada. Known as “tentilhão” this #bird is #endemic to this wonderful island, and is not found anywhere else is Macaronesia. My good friend @dunnjons.bsky.social standing to my right!
October 5, 2025 at 8:49 AM
4/10/25 #Madeira - Madeira Chaffinch (Fringilla maderensis) taking a bath in a levada. Known as “tentilhão” this #bird is #endemic to this wonderful island, and is not found anywhere else is Macaronesia. My good friend @dunnjons.bsky.social standing to my right!
4/10/25 - There are always great #orchids to be seen in #Orctober but you have to put yourself out there to find them!
Goodyera macrophylla is an endemic of #Madeira and one you have to put a real shift in for! Joined by my good friend @dunnjons.bsky.social every step of the way #teamorchid
Goodyera macrophylla is an endemic of #Madeira and one you have to put a real shift in for! Joined by my good friend @dunnjons.bsky.social every step of the way #teamorchid
October 4, 2025 at 8:05 PM
4/10/25 - There are always great #orchids to be seen in #Orctober but you have to put yourself out there to find them!
Goodyera macrophylla is an endemic of #Madeira and one you have to put a real shift in for! Joined by my good friend @dunnjons.bsky.social every step of the way #teamorchid
Goodyera macrophylla is an endemic of #Madeira and one you have to put a real shift in for! Joined by my good friend @dunnjons.bsky.social every step of the way #teamorchid
Today’s a year to the day that I came across a Ghost #Orchid in flower here in the UK. Last week, I travelled over to the South of France and visited a number of sites with my good friend and Mariposa co-leader @dunnjons.bsky.social where we saw some lovely examples, in good numbers
August 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Today’s a year to the day that I came across a Ghost #Orchid in flower here in the UK. Last week, I travelled over to the South of France and visited a number of sites with my good friend and Mariposa co-leader @dunnjons.bsky.social where we saw some lovely examples, in good numbers
27/7/25 Cumbria - #HuttonRoof treats us to a very interesting #orchid some years. It's clearly from the Epipactis phyllanthes group but quite unlike anything else I've seen in the UK, most closely matching the description of a Scandinavian taxon, var. confusa #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
July 27, 2025 at 7:50 PM
27/7/25 Cumbria - #HuttonRoof treats us to a very interesting #orchid some years. It's clearly from the Epipactis phyllanthes group but quite unlike anything else I've seen in the UK, most closely matching the description of a Scandinavian taxon, var. confusa #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
7/7/25 Cumbria - A species with an appropriate name; the Bog #Orchid (Hammarbya paludosa) grows exclusively in bogs with a basic flush and if your feet aren't making squelchy noises you're looking in the wrong place. These tiny #orchids are never easy to spot! #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
July 7, 2025 at 9:13 PM
7/7/25 Cumbria - A species with an appropriate name; the Bog #Orchid (Hammarbya paludosa) grows exclusively in bogs with a basic flush and if your feet aren't making squelchy noises you're looking in the wrong place. These tiny #orchids are never easy to spot! #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
6/7/25 Cumbria - Today's tour of #HuttonRoof for @mariposanature.bsky.social saw a great variety of Dark Red #Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens), my favourite having pale flowers with bright yellow lateral petals #HelleborineChallenge #Wildflowerhour #Orchid #Orchids @bsbibotany.bsky.social
July 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
6/7/25 Cumbria - Today's tour of #HuttonRoof for @mariposanature.bsky.social saw a great variety of Dark Red #Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens), my favourite having pale flowers with bright yellow lateral petals #HelleborineChallenge #Wildflowerhour #Orchid #Orchids @bsbibotany.bsky.social
15/6/25 Greater Manchester - Hadn't seen a Bee #Orchid (Ophrys apifera) so far in 2025 despite visiting several sites they're usually guaranteed. But these #UrbanPlants on a verge beside an urban carriageway well and truly brought delight to me on Father's Day #Wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
June 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM
15/6/25 Greater Manchester - Hadn't seen a Bee #Orchid (Ophrys apifera) so far in 2025 despite visiting several sites they're usually guaranteed. But these #UrbanPlants on a verge beside an urban carriageway well and truly brought delight to me on Father's Day #Wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
9/6/24 Lancashire - I’d planned to report on some CT scans this afternoon but fat chance of that happening due to a power cut 🤦🏻♂️
So instead, live from the field, the first of the summer #orchids, the Dark Red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
So instead, live from the field, the first of the summer #orchids, the Dark Red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
June 9, 2025 at 12:44 PM
9/6/24 Lancashire - I’d planned to report on some CT scans this afternoon but fat chance of that happening due to a power cut 🤦🏻♂️
So instead, live from the field, the first of the summer #orchids, the Dark Red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
So instead, live from the field, the first of the summer #orchids, the Dark Red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
8/6/25 Yorkshire - It's become a tradition each year for us to see Pugsley's Marsh #Orchids (Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides) at Kilnsey. There's a fair bit of hybrid shenanigans taking place, but this lop-sided plant with strongly lobed flowers is bang on #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
June 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
8/6/25 Yorkshire - It's become a tradition each year for us to see Pugsley's Marsh #Orchids (Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides) at Kilnsey. There's a fair bit of hybrid shenanigans taking place, but this lop-sided plant with strongly lobed flowers is bang on #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
8/6/25 Yorkshire - The Small White #Orchid (Pseudorchis albida) is far rarer than it should be, as a species that tolerates a wide range of habitats. Unfortunately overgrazing (baa) and improvement has rendered this plant particularly rare in England and Wales #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
June 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
8/6/25 Yorkshire - The Small White #Orchid (Pseudorchis albida) is far rarer than it should be, as a species that tolerates a wide range of habitats. Unfortunately overgrazing (baa) and improvement has rendered this plant particularly rare in England and Wales #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
8/6/25 Yorkshire - A hop over the border to God's own country proved rather fruitful, with many fine #orchids to be seen. This reintroduced Lady's Slipper #Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) on a woodland margin above a stream is particularly magnificent this year #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
June 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
8/6/25 Yorkshire - A hop over the border to God's own country proved rather fruitful, with many fine #orchids to be seen. This reintroduced Lady's Slipper #Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) on a woodland margin above a stream is particularly magnificent this year #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
I'm the Temu equivalent of Prof Bateman, Richard 😉
Your plant isn't D. traunsteinerioides, Jo. I'd suggest that it's a contrived hybrid; I have already been sent some images of particularly interesting Dactylorhizas this year and it's only the first of June
Photo for comparison; a Pug from Kilnsey
Your plant isn't D. traunsteinerioides, Jo. I'd suggest that it's a contrived hybrid; I have already been sent some images of particularly interesting Dactylorhizas this year and it's only the first of June
Photo for comparison; a Pug from Kilnsey
June 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
I'm the Temu equivalent of Prof Bateman, Richard 😉
Your plant isn't D. traunsteinerioides, Jo. I'd suggest that it's a contrived hybrid; I have already been sent some images of particularly interesting Dactylorhizas this year and it's only the first of June
Photo for comparison; a Pug from Kilnsey
Your plant isn't D. traunsteinerioides, Jo. I'd suggest that it's a contrived hybrid; I have already been sent some images of particularly interesting Dactylorhizas this year and it's only the first of June
Photo for comparison; a Pug from Kilnsey
1/6/25 - For this week's #wildflowerhour #OrchidChallenge I'm going to choose one of our highlights from the @mariposanature.bsky.social #Orchids of Kent tour that I co-led with @dunnjons.bsky.social
Pseudocopulation in action; a male Sand Wasp (Argogorytes) on a Fly #Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)
Pseudocopulation in action; a male Sand Wasp (Argogorytes) on a Fly #Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)
June 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
1/6/25 - For this week's #wildflowerhour #OrchidChallenge I'm going to choose one of our highlights from the @mariposanature.bsky.social #Orchids of Kent tour that I co-led with @dunnjons.bsky.social
Pseudocopulation in action; a male Sand Wasp (Argogorytes) on a Fly #Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)
Pseudocopulation in action; a male Sand Wasp (Argogorytes) on a Fly #Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)
Come and join me for #orchids galore on our guaranteed departure to #Cyprus at the beginning of March next year
It's a perfect opportunity to fill your boots with spectacular endemics, well before the UK #orchid scene gets going
We'll see other wildlife too!
www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
It's a perfect opportunity to fill your boots with spectacular endemics, well before the UK #orchid scene gets going
We'll see other wildlife too!
www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
May 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Come and join me for #orchids galore on our guaranteed departure to #Cyprus at the beginning of March next year
It's a perfect opportunity to fill your boots with spectacular endemics, well before the UK #orchid scene gets going
We'll see other wildlife too!
www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
It's a perfect opportunity to fill your boots with spectacular endemics, well before the UK #orchid scene gets going
We'll see other wildlife too!
www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
24/5/25 Cumbria - Phwoar! The Sword-Leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) is a seriously sexy plant, and I reckon our Northern populations are the best examples of this awesome #orchid, as well as the finest #orchids I have seen so far this year #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
May 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
24/5/25 Cumbria - Phwoar! The Sword-Leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) is a seriously sexy plant, and I reckon our Northern populations are the best examples of this awesome #orchid, as well as the finest #orchids I have seen so far this year #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
24/5/25 Cumbria - The Birds Nest #Orchid is a funny-looking thing, lacking chlorophyll and therefore being almost wholly reliant on mycoheterophy for its sustenance. This is the only reliable population I know from this county, they appear most years here #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
May 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM
24/5/25 Cumbria - The Birds Nest #Orchid is a funny-looking thing, lacking chlorophyll and therefore being almost wholly reliant on mycoheterophy for its sustenance. This is the only reliable population I know from this county, they appear most years here #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
19/5/25 Cumbria - I was accompanied by all-round good egg @rogercharding.bsky.social today and we visited a few local sites to me. Highlights included this lovely Coralroot #Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida) and a wonderful female Adder (Vipera berus) #wildflowerhour
May 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
19/5/25 Cumbria - I was accompanied by all-round good egg @rogercharding.bsky.social today and we visited a few local sites to me. Highlights included this lovely Coralroot #Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida) and a wonderful female Adder (Vipera berus) #wildflowerhour
17/5/25 Cumbria - Lacking enthusiasm for getting out and about as much as usual because it is so damned dry and the flora is suffering as a result. These Fly #Orchids looked pretty decent though, no doubt because this quarry site is well-sheltered #wildflowerhour
May 18, 2025 at 5:31 PM
17/5/25 Cumbria - Lacking enthusiasm for getting out and about as much as usual because it is so damned dry and the flora is suffering as a result. These Fly #Orchids looked pretty decent though, no doubt because this quarry site is well-sheltered #wildflowerhour
10/5/25 Co. Durham - It's fascinating to think that the insectivorous plant Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris, pictured) is a known host for the hemiparasitic arctic alpine, Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina). That may be the case here! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscience.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
May 11, 2025 at 9:24 PM
10/5/25 Co. Durham - It's fascinating to think that the insectivorous plant Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris, pictured) is a known host for the hemiparasitic arctic alpine, Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina). That may be the case here! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscience.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
10/5/25 Co. Durham - The hemiparasite Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina) is a real rarity in England, only growing in a handful of small areas where it's pretty heavily threatened. Access is often a real challenge at the sites it grows, for a multitude of reasons @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
May 11, 2025 at 8:54 PM
10/5/25 Co. Durham - The hemiparasite Alpine Bartsia (Bartsia alpina) is a real rarity in England, only growing in a handful of small areas where it's pretty heavily threatened. Access is often a real challenge at the sites it grows, for a multitude of reasons @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour