Ray Scally
@rayscally.bsky.social
Ornithological Illustrator, Birding Frontiers Illustrator, eBIRD reviewer for Cheshire County.
SHORELARK, Mow Cop, Cheshire - Probably bird of the moment in Cheshire, an over wintering bird staying loyal to the same muddy field over the winter months, interesting to see how long it stays before it moves on. Watercolour on ARCHES paper #ukbirding
February 8, 2026 at 5:46 PM
SHORELARK, Mow Cop, Cheshire - Probably bird of the moment in Cheshire, an over wintering bird staying loyal to the same muddy field over the winter months, interesting to see how long it stays before it moves on. Watercolour on ARCHES paper #ukbirding
Reposted by Ray Scally
'The New Birds of the Sheffield Area'
Indoor Meeting: Weds 11th Feb 7.15pm
Join us to celebrate the launch of our fabulous new 440 page book detailing all 300 species ever sighted in our area. Editors Richard & David will talk us through the project.
Copies for sale + complimentary fizz!
Indoor Meeting: Weds 11th Feb 7.15pm
Join us to celebrate the launch of our fabulous new 440 page book detailing all 300 species ever sighted in our area. Editors Richard & David will talk us through the project.
Copies for sale + complimentary fizz!
February 4, 2026 at 7:32 PM
'The New Birds of the Sheffield Area'
Indoor Meeting: Weds 11th Feb 7.15pm
Join us to celebrate the launch of our fabulous new 440 page book detailing all 300 species ever sighted in our area. Editors Richard & David will talk us through the project.
Copies for sale + complimentary fizz!
Indoor Meeting: Weds 11th Feb 7.15pm
Join us to celebrate the launch of our fabulous new 440 page book detailing all 300 species ever sighted in our area. Editors Richard & David will talk us through the project.
Copies for sale + complimentary fizz!
SALE WATER PARK, Manchester - Great to have WILLOW TIT in the area and so close to the city, a bird practically extinct in some counties, watercolour sketch on a new glossy paper I'm trying, currently at least 2 birds visiting the feeders. #ukbirding #birds #sketching
January 30, 2026 at 5:17 PM
SALE WATER PARK, Manchester - Great to have WILLOW TIT in the area and so close to the city, a bird practically extinct in some counties, watercolour sketch on a new glossy paper I'm trying, currently at least 2 birds visiting the feeders. #ukbirding #birds #sketching
AUDENSHAW RESERVOIR, Greater Manchester - SMEW sketches from earlier in the week. #ukbirding
January 6, 2026 at 4:57 PM
AUDENSHAW RESERVOIR, Greater Manchester - SMEW sketches from earlier in the week. #ukbirding
AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Manchester. - Great morning, 1 SMEW, 1 Green Sand, 1 Redshank, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Pochard, 2 Snipe, 25 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, 10 Wigeon, 46 Teal, 4 Redpoll #ukbirding
January 4, 2026 at 5:34 PM
AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Manchester. - Great morning, 1 SMEW, 1 Green Sand, 1 Redshank, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Pochard, 2 Snipe, 25 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, 10 Wigeon, 46 Teal, 4 Redpoll #ukbirding
WATERSWALLOWS QUARRY, Buxton, Derbys. - 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Yellow legged Gull which stayed briefly and towards Dove Holes, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Raven, 1 Cormorant, 4 Buzzard the highlights @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
December 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
WATERSWALLOWS QUARRY, Buxton, Derbys. - 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Yellow legged Gull which stayed briefly and towards Dove Holes, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Raven, 1 Cormorant, 4 Buzzard the highlights @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
BUFFLEHEAD, Foryd Bay, Gwynedd, Wales - 21.12.25 - Sketches done on site and watercolour added on return home. #birdart #birds #ukbirding on @DalerRowney Langton Cold Pressed Block
December 25, 2025 at 11:25 AM
BUFFLEHEAD, Foryd Bay, Gwynedd, Wales - 21.12.25 - Sketches done on site and watercolour added on return home. #birdart #birds #ukbirding on @DalerRowney Langton Cold Pressed Block
Reposted by Ray Scally
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.
RED-BACKED SHRIKE - An adult from the spring, watercolour on Arches paper for the cover of a publication. #birds #ukbirding #birdart
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
RED-BACKED SHRIKE - An adult from the spring, watercolour on Arches paper for the cover of a publication. #birds #ukbirding #birdart
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, Blithfield, Staffs – From a couple of weeks back, stayed asleep for the first half hour in low sun and semi concealed which made picking out the ID features difficult but educational, showed well as morning progressed. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, Blithfield, Staffs – From a couple of weeks back, stayed asleep for the first half hour in low sun and semi concealed which made picking out the ID features difficult but educational, showed well as morning progressed. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
HEN HARRIER – Watercolour on daler Rowney watercolour block for publication #ukbirding #birdart #birds
November 2, 2025 at 5:20 PM
HEN HARRIER – Watercolour on daler Rowney watercolour block for publication #ukbirding #birdart #birds
GLOSSY IBIS – Watercolour on Arches HP, lucky to catch up with a few of these birds consisting of over 600 birds recorded in the UK and a good number in Ireland, a very rare breeder in UK, most birds being juveniles with a small proportion of adults also amongst the frenzy. #ukbirding #birds
October 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
GLOSSY IBIS – Watercolour on Arches HP, lucky to catch up with a few of these birds consisting of over 600 birds recorded in the UK and a good number in Ireland, a very rare breeder in UK, most birds being juveniles with a small proportion of adults also amongst the frenzy. #ukbirding #birds
Reposted by Ray Scally
Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), Waterswallows Quarry, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK, 07/10/2025 ebird.org/checklist/S2... This arctic-breeding wader, no doubt blown inland by Storm Amy, was found by @rayscally.bsky.social this afternoon #ukbirding #birding #birds #rarebirdsuk #ukrarebirds
October 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), Waterswallows Quarry, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK, 07/10/2025 ebird.org/checklist/S2... This arctic-breeding wader, no doubt blown inland by Storm Amy, was found by @rayscally.bsky.social this afternoon #ukbirding #birding #birds #rarebirdsuk #ukrarebirds
WATERSWALLOWS Reservoir, Buxton, Derbyshire - Started slowly with 2 Teal which was a site tick, 4 Tufted Duck, 35 Lapwing, 1 Little Grebe and on the main quarry pool was gobsmacked to find a GREY PHALAROPE spinning in the distance. @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
October 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
WATERSWALLOWS Reservoir, Buxton, Derbyshire - Started slowly with 2 Teal which was a site tick, 4 Tufted Duck, 35 Lapwing, 1 Little Grebe and on the main quarry pool was gobsmacked to find a GREY PHALAROPE spinning in the distance. @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
AUDENSHAW RES, G Man - Start of the WHOOOPER SWAN arrival in Manchester, 12 arriving first thing and departing, another 6 dropped in at 2pm when I was there with a banded bird 53F that was recently ringed in Iceland on 11.08.25 @kanebrides.bsky.social @dan-gornall.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
AUDENSHAW RES, G Man - Start of the WHOOOPER SWAN arrival in Manchester, 12 arriving first thing and departing, another 6 dropped in at 2pm when I was there with a banded bird 53F that was recently ringed in Iceland on 11.08.25 @kanebrides.bsky.social @dan-gornall.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Ray Scally
Birthday present from Mrs B. a @rayscally.bsky.social - American and Pacific Golden Plover, Kentish Plover on the Humber off the Warren, Spurn autumn 2023.
October 5, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Birthday present from Mrs B. a @rayscally.bsky.social - American and Pacific Golden Plover, Kentish Plover on the Humber off the Warren, Spurn autumn 2023.
HALE HEAD, Cheshire - Excellent few hours from the lighthouse this morning 1 LEACH'S PETREL blogged for 5 mins or so, 2 Kittiwake, 1 Common Scoter, 2 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 10 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 29 Golden Plover, 5 Sanderling, 3 Swallow #UKbirding
October 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
HALE HEAD, Cheshire - Excellent few hours from the lighthouse this morning 1 LEACH'S PETREL blogged for 5 mins or so, 2 Kittiwake, 1 Common Scoter, 2 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 10 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 29 Golden Plover, 5 Sanderling, 3 Swallow #UKbirding
MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - Good movement this morning, 7 RING OUZEL, 2 WHINCHAT, 1 LITTLE EGRET, 30 skylark, 57 Mistle thrush, 120 Swallow, 100 House Martin, 10 Siskin, 120 Meadow Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 29 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 5 Wigeon, 140 Teal @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - Good movement this morning, 7 RING OUZEL, 2 WHINCHAT, 1 LITTLE EGRET, 30 skylark, 57 Mistle thrush, 120 Swallow, 100 House Martin, 10 Siskin, 120 Meadow Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 29 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 5 Wigeon, 140 Teal @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
MIDDLETON MOOR Derbys. - 126 Glag Goose, 1 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 55 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 SWIFT, 1 W Rail, 1 GOL PLOVER over, 2 RED KITE, 4 Skylark, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Gar Warbler, 4 Redstart, 5 WHINCHAT, 4 Stonechat, 4 TREE PIPIT over, 5 Reed Bunt @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
August 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
MIDDLETON MOOR Derbys. - 126 Glag Goose, 1 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 55 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 5 SWIFT, 1 W Rail, 1 GOL PLOVER over, 2 RED KITE, 4 Skylark, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Gar Warbler, 4 Redstart, 5 WHINCHAT, 4 Stonechat, 4 TREE PIPIT over, 5 Reed Bunt @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding
Reposted by Ray Scally
Start your journey into birding and wildlife watching on our new Spurn Residential Retreats! Last chance to book upcoming dates - 29th to 31st Aug and 5th to 7th Sept inclusive. Booking and more info here: spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/spurn-r...
August 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Start your journey into birding and wildlife watching on our new Spurn Residential Retreats! Last chance to book upcoming dates - 29th to 31st Aug and 5th to 7th Sept inclusive. Booking and more info here: spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/spurn-r...
Reposted by Ray Scally
Migfest migration festival at Spurn is the hottest nature event of the year & tickets were sold out weeks ago, such is the demand for this prestigious event.
For anyone with a ticket, I will be doing my usual two hr workshop on both days between 9am and 11am. martin-standley.squarespace.com/blog
For anyone with a ticket, I will be doing my usual two hr workshop on both days between 9am and 11am. martin-standley.squarespace.com/blog
August 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Migfest migration festival at Spurn is the hottest nature event of the year & tickets were sold out weeks ago, such is the demand for this prestigious event.
For anyone with a ticket, I will be doing my usual two hr workshop on both days between 9am and 11am. martin-standley.squarespace.com/blog
For anyone with a ticket, I will be doing my usual two hr workshop on both days between 9am and 11am. martin-standley.squarespace.com/blog
MIDDLETON MOOR, Nth Derbys. - A steady passage today ended this evening with 1 GREENSHANK, 1 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 1 Water Rail, the first to be seen in many years, 2 Shoveler, 30 Teal, 42 L B B Gull, 3 Raven being the highlights. @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdinguk
August 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM
MIDDLETON MOOR, Nth Derbys. - A steady passage today ended this evening with 1 GREENSHANK, 1 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 1 Water Rail, the first to be seen in many years, 2 Shoveler, 30 Teal, 42 L B B Gull, 3 Raven being the highlights. @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdinguk
AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Manchester - A bit of passage this morning, 1 RUFF, 1 B t Godwit, 1 Common Sand, 1 LRP, 1 Green Sand, 2 Little Egret, 22 R N Parakeet, 1 Yellow Wagtail, LESSER SCAUP still present with @simonghilks.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social #ukbirding
August 16, 2025 at 12:27 PM
AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Manchester - A bit of passage this morning, 1 RUFF, 1 B t Godwit, 1 Common Sand, 1 LRP, 1 Green Sand, 2 Little Egret, 22 R N Parakeet, 1 Yellow Wagtail, LESSER SCAUP still present with @simonghilks.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social #ukbirding
RUDYARD LAKE, Staffordshire - 1 MARSH HARRIER thru, 3 Teal, 9 Ringed Plover, 6 LR Plover, 1 Snipe, 3 Common Sand, 1 Green Sand, Peregrine, 2 Spotted Fly, 3 Yellow Wagtail this morning, full list on ebird.
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #ukbirding
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #ukbirding
August 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
RUDYARD LAKE, Staffordshire - 1 MARSH HARRIER thru, 3 Teal, 9 Ringed Plover, 6 LR Plover, 1 Snipe, 3 Common Sand, 1 Green Sand, Peregrine, 2 Spotted Fly, 3 Yellow Wagtail this morning, full list on ebird.
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #ukbirding
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #ukbirding
WATERSWALLOWS RES, Buxton - 11.08.25 - Migrants starting to go through, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, a scarce bird north county, fledging Redstart, 1 Mandarin, 4 Tufted Duck, 11 Lapwing, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 6:11 AM
WATERSWALLOWS RES, Buxton - 11.08.25 - Migrants starting to go through, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, a scarce bird north county, fledging Redstart, 1 Mandarin, 4 Tufted Duck, 11 Lapwing, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social