Robert Vaughan

A fantastic find by Molly Bell last weekend of an adult Greater Yellowlegs was conveniently close to a survey on Monday afternoon. I enjoyed fantastic point blank views of it, and had it to myself for entire time, the joys of birding in Ireland!

I am looking forward to a short trip to Italian Alps at the end of the month with 2 friends. It is an area I have seen several Lammergieir before and we are hoping for a few close encounters on this trip.

A real treat earlier in the week was this Red-breasted Flycatcher. It was very elusive on a wet and windy day, but was calling regularly making it a little easier to track.

There was an influx of Bairds Sandpipers in Ireland this Autumn with atleast 3 in Donegal. It has been a long time bogey bird of mine, so I was delighted to find one infront of the Tready hide at Inch Island shortly after distant views of another at nearby Blanket Nook.

A recent pic of the juvenile Harpy Eagle, this was done as a small thank you for my in-laws who organised the visit. I have a few more ideas roughed up and looking forward to getting back to soon.

Some recent illustrations of the Clouded Yellow Butterfly's and Golden Ringed Dragonfly. I was fortunate to get great views of several of each, thanks to Harry Hussey for the Dragonfly site.

A couple of weeks ago, work took me close to Wexford and I made the most of the opportunity to see the long staying Grey-headed Wagtail and visit a site for Golden-ringed Dragonfly. It was also great to see my first Clouded Yellows in many years, with several at most sites I stopped.

I was delighted to be asked to contribute a few illustrations to the Donegal Bird Report, excellently compiled by Derek Brennan . 2025 was an incredible year for rare and scarce birds in Donegal with several county and Irish firsts discovered. The report can be viewed at zenodo.org/records/2124...

The second of the maps created with Glenveagh was Walking the Woodlands. Graphic Design: Sara Sirtoli www.diademadisara.com Illustrations: www.robertvaughanillustrations.com @glenveaghofficial #nationalbiodiverstyweek #BiodiversityWeek2026 #natura2000 #wildlifeart #donegalevents

Sara and I are only now catching up after a wonderful week of events at Glenveagh National Park during Le Chéile don Dúlra Festival. Graphic Design @diademadisara_design www.diademadisara.com

Lots of Orange-tips around. My favourite butterfly, so I thought I’d paint a male on Cuckoo Flower, with egg from a visiting female.

I am looking forward to leading a Nature Art Walk and Workshop this Wednesday as part of Le Chéile don Dúlra Biodiversity Festival in Glenveagh National Park. Although the event is free, booking is advised and can be done through the Glenveagh National Park website.

It has been a busy few months of work, but I have tried to focus a bit of time on some of my own art work lately. I was fortunate to see this Oriental Turtle Dove that had spent a few months near Lisburn, news only breaking shortly before it departed in March.

I have not had much time to look back on the Panama trip yet, but I am slowly getting through the photos. These Golden-headed Manakins were a real highlight, over 20 years since I last saw them. Its hard to think of a more entertaining and beautiful family of birds to watch!

I am really looking forward to giving a talk to the Carlow Branch of Birdwatch Ireland this friday night. I will be talking about the conservation of Ring Ouzel and my experiences searching for the few remaining pairs in recent years. www.facebook.com/share/1BXHrr...

It was a privilege to spend so much time enjoying the Harpy Eagles, sketching and photographing them. The few days exploring the remaining forests in this area, will live long in my memory. @robertvaughanillustration @diademadisara_design #panama #darien #harpyeagle #birdwatching

A few more of our recent Panama trip, and the Harpy Eagle visit. I am so grateful to my wife Sara @diademadisara_design and her parents for organising this adventure. @robertvaughanillustration @diademadisara_design #panama #darien #harpyeagle #birdwatching #irishartis

We are almost at the end of a fantastic trip to Panama, the highlight being a wonderful morning in the Darièn region enjoying a Harpy Eagle. The morning was even made more spectacular by the arrival of the adult male.

Having become very erratic in it's appearances throughout 2025, I was delighted to catch up with the Double-crested Cormorant at Doon Lough for the first time since December 2024. A family party of Whooper Swans also fed close to the viewpoint, showing beautifully in the afternoon light.

2 more of the Harlequin from a few weeks ago. Most of my sketch book is now filled with this bird, I really need to broaden my focus!

A beautiful day along the north coast yesterday, I was really lucky that the Harlequin was again showing really well for a few hours before work. I will be back again next week and can only hope for more good weather!

A quick painting of the Harlequin that is still hanging about in north Donegal. I am really looking forward to getting back to the coast later this week and hope to see him again.

The highlight of a local wander in the snow yesterday was a pair of Goosander flying over our apt, I was just quick enough to get one photo of the male. A stunning and surprise addition to the garden list!

The view from the studio today, lots of Thrush on the move between the flurries. I hope to get out and explore the woods later and see what else is about.

Thanks @hollygroganart.bsky.social for the beautiful calendar, here's to a wonderful 2026!

A wonderful, but cold and breezy morning back at Trà na gCloch in north Donegal ahead of my last survey of the year. A huge thank you to everyone who has liked, shared and bought my work throughout the year, I am eternally grateful for all the support. Best wishes for 2026

I would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Thank you very much to all who follow me, liked and shared my work, it really means a lot to me.

I was delighted to catch up with the Harlequin Duck again at Trà na gCloch yesterday. Despite the horrible weather, I was able to sit in the comfort of the car and watch it come and go in the massive surf.

It was a pleasure to be asked to judge the Wainfest Children's Art Competition in Glenveagh National Park . The variety and quality of entrants was incredible. A huge thank you to Alarnagh, Clare and Maggie for their incredible work to put it all together. The winners will be announced soon!

A selection of original illustrations from various recent projects, some of these are available on my website. If you see one you are interested in, please feel free to get in touch. See more at www.robertvaughanillustrations.com

I have a selection of cards and prints available on my website, as well as many original artworks. You can see the full selection at www.robertvaughanillustrations.com

I was delighted to be asked to look through the entries and help to select the 12 winners to be included in the annual children’s calendar. Closing date is on 7 December 2025. Entries can be posted or delivered to: Glenveagh National Park Visitor Centre Church Hill, Letterkenny Donegal F92P993

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.