Vinny Blood
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orchidvinny.bsky.social
Vinny Blood
@orchidvinny.bsky.social
Biophile based in Bournemouth. Love flora and fauna alike - with a particular interest in orchids.
I count myself very fortunate to have good numbers of Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) near to where I live in Bournemouth. This dainty-looking native orchid is incredibly drought resilient. Within days of the first rain showers the first plants were blooming!
September 4, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
My first Autumn Lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) of the year. Quite a bit later than last year, these are right by the coast, kept hydrated by moisture from the sea. #orchid
August 16, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Some interesting #CommonNames at Kenfig, South Wales this morning. Vipers Bugloss, Fleabane, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Rest Harrow, Eyebright, Autumn Lady’s-tresses. See ALT text for more on the names. #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
August 16, 2026 at 7:07 PM
A selection of the variations within Naked Man Orchid (Orchis italica) I saw in Crete in April 2026. As with so many orchid encounters, this exceeded my expectations by some margin!
August 16, 2026 at 10:29 PM
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Sundews & other bog species on Dorset heathland yesterday 2/8/2026. Marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe), all 3 native sundew spp, D.intermedia, D.anglica, D.rotundiflora + the hybrid Drosera x belezeana; & the interloper, the non-native D.binata 😃 @lizlouise.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social
August 3, 2026 at 8:22 AM
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Still some lovely Bog orchids (Hammarbya paludosa) flowering in a Dorset bog yesterday 2/8/2026. @ukorchids.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social @lizlouise.bsky.social
August 3, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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'Come fly with me'

A Swallowtail. This species will forever remain as one of my most favourite butterflies, no matter where I go or what else I see.
July 14, 2026 at 4:49 PM
What an incredible year for Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctata)! Seems to be an absolute explosion of this diurnal moth in southern England. 4 individuals in 4 days within a few hundred metres of home in Bournemouth. The wing patterns are unique, so I know it's not the same one flitting around 😜
July 19, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Broad-leaved Helleborines (Epipactis helleborine) looking wonderful in the Dorset sunshine today 4/7/26. #orchid #wildflowers
July 4, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Amazing find!
Epipogium aphyllum, The Ghost orchid 💥 Triglavski NP, Slovenia. 24/6/2026 👻🇸🇮 @ukorchids.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social
June 24, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
A final visit to the Abbotts Wood Inclosure at Alice Holt this morning. Three male Purple Emperors searching the Sallows overhead, White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries visiting the rideside Brambles, and Purple Hairstreaks flitting high-up in the Oaks.
June 23, 2026 at 4:02 PM
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Odd-spot Blue (Turanana endymion).

A tiny but special butterfly seen today on our Greek butterfly tour. It has an extremely limited distribution in Europe & is classed as Endangered (EN) on the @europebutterfly.bsky.social European Red List...

www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...

📸 Sotiris Alexiou
June 23, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Common spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza fuschii), Slovenian stylee 😃💜🇸🇮 @ukorchids.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social
June 23, 2026 at 6:39 AM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Bog orchid (Hammarbya paludosa) in the morning dew - New Forest. 15/6/2026 @ukorchids.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social
June 15, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Small-white orchid, Pseudorchis albida, with pollinator moth (and pollinia) & nectaring beetle. Mid Wales. 7/6/2026. @ukorchids.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social @pjvanmaaren.bsky.social @stevieparsons.bsky.social
June 8, 2026 at 1:55 PM
It's Plantago lanceolata Jim - but not as we know it! A very odd, proliferate mutation. As only one plant affected, I would say genetic rather than a pathogenetic cause. Bournemouth 01.06.26. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
June 1, 2026 at 9:52 PM
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Early marsh-orchids (Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. pulchella) and Southern marsh-orchids (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) flowering a year to the day I last visited this undisturbed site in urban Bournemouth 😃 19/5/2026 @orchidvinny.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
May 19, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Something of a Dactylorhiza day in the New Forest 27.05.26. D.pratermissa, maculata, x hallii and incarnata ssp. pulchella all getting going! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @withylake.bsky.social
May 17, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Pre-tour recce for @greenwingstours.bsky.social Emerald Isle trip. Looking forward to welcoming guests tomorrow 👍 plenty of Early Purple in a beautiful setting, plus a few new friends made 😂
May 15, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Military #Orchid (Orchis militaris) & hybrids between it and Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) known as Orchis x hybrida.

Just 1 of the endless treasures found during our ongoing Sibillini & Abruzzo tour in the Apennines of Italy right now!
May 17, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Couple of uncommon beauties from the New Forest 17.05.26. Bastard Balm (Mellitis mellisophyllum) and Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre). @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
May 17, 2026 at 6:34 PM
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Parsonage Down - "Nil Points"; Martin Down - "Tres" - Burnt-tip orchids 😃 16/5/2026 @orchidvinny.bsky.social @lizlouise.bsky.social @stevieparsons.bsky.social
May 16, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) 16.05.26 in southern Wiltshire. Unexpected encounter with this scarce species - lady luck smiled and I was able to capture my best ever image of this lovely little insect. #ukbutterflies
May 16, 2026 at 5:50 PM
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Tour de Dorset, 4/5/2026. White helleborine, Bird's-nest orchid, Green-winged orchids, Fly orchids, Southern marsh-orchids, Greater butterfly-orchids and a fish supper 😃😋 @ukorchids.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social
May 4, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Vinny Blood
Heath-spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata) also in flower today 3/5/2026, East Devon Pebblebeds. @orchidvinny.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
May 3, 2026 at 5:47 PM