Robert Vaughan
@robertvaughani.bsky.social
Wildlife artist
www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
Earlier in the autumn a stunning Red-breasted Goose appeared along the north coast. It was a bit early to be considered a genuine vagrant, but it was a stunning looking bird. It was my first time to see the species anywhere, and I was glad to spend a bit of time sketching it.
November 28, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Earlier in the autumn a stunning Red-breasted Goose appeared along the north coast. It was a bit early to be considered a genuine vagrant, but it was a stunning looking bird. It was my first time to see the species anywhere, and I was glad to spend a bit of time sketching it.
This Ross's Gull was painted from a long staying bird in Galway a few winters' back. I was fortunate to see it 3 times, and it was my third at that very location. This, and many more original artworks are available on my website www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
This Ross's Gull was painted from a long staying bird in Galway a few winters' back. I was fortunate to see it 3 times, and it was my third at that very location. This, and many more original artworks are available on my website www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
I have been trying for a while to get back again and see the Harlequin Duck. Although he has become a little more erratic in his appearances, it is really worth the effort. The moult is advancing rapidly and he is looking stunning, I am really hoping he sticks about for the winter.
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I have been trying for a while to get back again and see the Harlequin Duck. Although he has become a little more erratic in his appearances, it is really worth the effort. The moult is advancing rapidly and he is looking stunning, I am really hoping he sticks about for the winter.
I am really looking forward to starting a new and exciting project today, this Golden Eagle being the first of a long list of flora and fauna to be illustrated
November 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I am really looking forward to starting a new and exciting project today, this Golden Eagle being the first of a long list of flora and fauna to be illustrated
A small selection of the Christmas cards that are available on my website. You can see the full range at www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:44 AM
A small selection of the Christmas cards that are available on my website. You can see the full range at www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
Having been delighted with a single Snow Bunting on Monday, I was amazed to find 14 on Tuesday, and atleast 24 yesterday in the Leitrim hills! Sadly, they rarely settled for long, flying far and wide while I was doing survey.
November 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Having been delighted with a single Snow Bunting on Monday, I was amazed to find 14 on Tuesday, and atleast 24 yesterday in the Leitrim hills! Sadly, they rarely settled for long, flying far and wide while I was doing survey.
A 1st winter Ring-billed Gull was reported near one of my survey sites, so a slight diversion after work yesterday resulted in great views as it fed amongst the gulls and mallards in a small park.
November 19, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A 1st winter Ring-billed Gull was reported near one of my survey sites, so a slight diversion after work yesterday resulted in great views as it fed amongst the gulls and mallards in a small park.
Having spent the day in the hills on a survey and seeing almost nothing yesterday, I was delighted when this snow bunting shuffled out of the heather by my feet and posed so well for almost 15 minutes. Wonderful to see such colour on what seemed like a bleak and barren site.
November 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Having spent the day in the hills on a survey and seeing almost nothing yesterday, I was delighted when this snow bunting shuffled out of the heather by my feet and posed so well for almost 15 minutes. Wonderful to see such colour on what seemed like a bleak and barren site.
A few sketches from the weekend. Goosander is generally a scarce and shy species in Ireland, always distant at a few regular sites, so I was delighted with one showing well with mallards in Ramelton town on Saturday. The Coal Tit was one of a few birds during some surveying yesterday.
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 AM
A few sketches from the weekend. Goosander is generally a scarce and shy species in Ireland, always distant at a few regular sites, so I was delighted with one showing well with mallards in Ramelton town on Saturday. The Coal Tit was one of a few birds during some surveying yesterday.
White-tailed Eagles are becoming an increasingly regular sight in Donegal, and can almost be guaranteed at a few favoured locations. This was a rough study from a few years ago to help me age the birds I was seeing.
November 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
White-tailed Eagles are becoming an increasingly regular sight in Donegal, and can almost be guaranteed at a few favoured locations. This was a rough study from a few years ago to help me age the birds I was seeing.
Reposted by Robert Vaughan
This is disgusting in all regards. The crime, the time and the silence. As soon as these crimes have been committed and announcing info won’t risk an investigation, then this should be communicated nationally as fast as possible.
Hen Harrier Susie, whose chicks were stamped to death on a Yorkshire Dales grouse moor in 2022, has been found dead on a N Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries.
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
Hen Harrier ‘Susie’, whose chicks were stamped to death in 2022, has been found dead on a North Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries
If ever there was an example demonstrating the high level of persecution faced by Hen Harriers on UK grouse moors, the lack of consequences for the offenders, and the lack of justice for the victim…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This is disgusting in all regards. The crime, the time and the silence. As soon as these crimes have been committed and announcing info won’t risk an investigation, then this should be communicated nationally as fast as possible.
Two new Christmas card designs are still available on my website. A huge thank you to everyone who has bought them, and for the kind feedback, it is really appreciated!
Please check out www.robertvaughanillustrations.com for more.
Please check out www.robertvaughanillustrations.com for more.
November 14, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Two new Christmas card designs are still available on my website. A huge thank you to everyone who has bought them, and for the kind feedback, it is really appreciated!
Please check out www.robertvaughanillustrations.com for more.
Please check out www.robertvaughanillustrations.com for more.
A few sketches of a pair of Bullfinches that were quietly feeding in our garden recently. They looked even better against the autumn colours surrounding them.
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A few sketches of a pair of Bullfinches that were quietly feeding in our garden recently. They looked even better against the autumn colours surrounding them.
I was glad to see the 2 Taiga Bean Geese last week at Dooey in West Donegal. Having managed brief views of 1 of the 9 Taiga's that had been at Inch, it was a great opportunity to be able to take in the structure and details.
A Pink-footed sleeping in a roadside field made for a much better subject.
A Pink-footed sleeping in a roadside field made for a much better subject.
November 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I was glad to see the 2 Taiga Bean Geese last week at Dooey in West Donegal. Having managed brief views of 1 of the 9 Taiga's that had been at Inch, it was a great opportunity to be able to take in the structure and details.
A Pink-footed sleeping in a roadside field made for a much better subject.
A Pink-footed sleeping in a roadside field made for a much better subject.
I completed the Swainson's and Grey-cheeked Thrush illustration over the weekend. It was really enjoyable to work on these 2 subtle American vagrants that I was lucky to see earlier this Autumn close to home. #donegalbirding
November 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I completed the Swainson's and Grey-cheeked Thrush illustration over the weekend. It was really enjoyable to work on these 2 subtle American vagrants that I was lucky to see earlier this Autumn close to home. #donegalbirding
A big surprise on Saturday was a Bittern appearing at Inch Island, Donegal. I had just started sketching an American Golden Plover when the Bittern flew in and landed infornt of us. Although typically skulky, it was on show regularly until darkness allowing some sketching.
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM
A big surprise on Saturday was a Bittern appearing at Inch Island, Donegal. I had just started sketching an American Golden Plover when the Bittern flew in and landed infornt of us. Although typically skulky, it was on show regularly until darkness allowing some sketching.
Two new Christmas card designs now available on my website, www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
Plenty of other cards, prints and some new originals can also be found there.
Plenty of other cards, prints and some new originals can also be found there.
November 6, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Two new Christmas card designs now available on my website, www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
Plenty of other cards, prints and some new originals can also be found there.
Plenty of other cards, prints and some new originals can also be found there.
Donegal has a poor history of American passerines, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear of a Swainson's Thrush last month. Nobody could then have predicted what would be discovered in the following week, with Grey-cheeked Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler and 4 or 5 Red-eyed Vireos. #donegalbirding
November 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Donegal has a poor history of American passerines, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear of a Swainson's Thrush last month. Nobody could then have predicted what would be discovered in the following week, with Grey-cheeked Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler and 4 or 5 Red-eyed Vireos. #donegalbirding
I have just re-stocked on my Christmas cards, including a few new designs that I will share in the coming days. Please have a look at my website to see more www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
Many new original paintings and illustrations are also available.
Many new original paintings and illustrations are also available.
November 4, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I have just re-stocked on my Christmas cards, including a few new designs that I will share in the coming days. Please have a look at my website to see more www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
Many new original paintings and illustrations are also available.
Many new original paintings and illustrations are also available.
Reposted by Robert Vaughan
The long overdue 2024 BOC News is now published online at
tinyurl.com/BOC-News-2024
Some amazing images and stories from around the Observatory network and a memoriam for the late Steve Wing.
tinyurl.com/BOC-News-2024
Some amazing images and stories from around the Observatory network and a memoriam for the late Steve Wing.
November 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The long overdue 2024 BOC News is now published online at
tinyurl.com/BOC-News-2024
Some amazing images and stories from around the Observatory network and a memoriam for the late Steve Wing.
tinyurl.com/BOC-News-2024
Some amazing images and stories from around the Observatory network and a memoriam for the late Steve Wing.
I was really delighted to receive this beautiful book by the incredible @dougalisart.bsky.social this morning. Page after page of stunning art work, I will be pouring over this for days, and no doubt for years to come, using it as inspiration and motivation.
November 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I was really delighted to receive this beautiful book by the incredible @dougalisart.bsky.social this morning. Page after page of stunning art work, I will be pouring over this for days, and no doubt for years to come, using it as inspiration and motivation.
After a recent early morning airport drop off, I continued down to Wexford for the first time in years. I was delighted to find a juvenile American Golden Plover at Tacumshin, before a harrier spectacle. The male Northern Harrier joined a few Hen and Marsh Harriers as the sun set.
October 31, 2025 at 10:35 AM
After a recent early morning airport drop off, I continued down to Wexford for the first time in years. I was delighted to find a juvenile American Golden Plover at Tacumshin, before a harrier spectacle. The male Northern Harrier joined a few Hen and Marsh Harriers as the sun set.
One of the Harlequins Ducks I found a few weeks ago has settled down on a quiet little beach in North West Donegal and I was really fortunate to spend a bit of time with it recently. Fingers crossed now that it stays for the winter, what a glorious sight it will be in a few months.
October 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
One of the Harlequins Ducks I found a few weeks ago has settled down on a quiet little beach in North West Donegal and I was really fortunate to spend a bit of time with it recently. Fingers crossed now that it stays for the winter, what a glorious sight it will be in a few months.
The Ring Ouzel documentary, The 'Silent Valley - the last Irish Ring Ouzels', can now be heard as a podcast on the following link.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
A massive thank you to Eric Dempsey for his work to highlight their plight.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
A massive thank you to Eric Dempsey for his work to highlight their plight.
October 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The Ring Ouzel documentary, The 'Silent Valley - the last Irish Ring Ouzels', can now be heard as a podcast on the following link.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
A massive thank you to Eric Dempsey for his work to highlight their plight.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
A massive thank you to Eric Dempsey for his work to highlight their plight.
I am really looking forward to the new radio documentary being aired at 3.00pm today, Monday 27th Oct, on RTÉ Radio1. The ‘Silent Valley - the last Irish Ring Ouzels’, it examines the plight of our Ring Ouzels (down to just one known pair in 2024) and asks if they can be saved?
October 27, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I am really looking forward to the new radio documentary being aired at 3.00pm today, Monday 27th Oct, on RTÉ Radio1. The ‘Silent Valley - the last Irish Ring Ouzels’, it examines the plight of our Ring Ouzels (down to just one known pair in 2024) and asks if they can be saved?