I had another fabulous day of birdwatching today. I joined my sister, Jody, and met up with my friend, Denine and her friend, Mac at the Pacific International Quilt Show in Santa Clara, CA. We did some serious birdwatching. We saw a lot of expected birds and some rather amazing rarities! Here are the highlights. Note: All the pictures can be clicked to embiggen.
Delicious by Rachel Wetzler
There is a lovely Ruby-throated Hummingbird and an American Goldfinch in this lovely garden quilt.
North to Alaska by Anne Joule (New Zealand)
Storks flying north? Isn’t it the wrong time of year for that?
Moon Garden by Judy Coates Perez
I couldn’t identify this lovely red bird but it sure is eye-catching. This was a whole-cloth quilt that the artist painted and then quilted. It was stunning.
Rhapsody at First Light by Bonnie Keller
Two sweet little wrens hiding around the corners of this quilt.
Vertigo by Kathy York
Aren’t these the most adorable — and brightly colored — chickadees you’ve ever seen! This was easily my favorite quilt in the show. The artist said that the yellow bird on the ground had a fear of heights and wouldn’t use the ladder. So funny.
Carmel Beach – 1920’s by Mary Ellen Parsons
More spectacular storks.
Western Sea Gull by Jean Dunn
Totally expected to see a Sea Gull today but still this one is striking, don’t you think?
Winter Plumage by Denise Oyama Miller
I just love shorebirds!
Kacho Fuugetu – The Love of Nature by Eiko Kurokawa (Japan)
There are some exotic birds in Japan, aren’t there?
Peace in Our Hands by Jae McDonald
What a lovely dove. You know what they say about a bird in the hand!
Loon by Lauren L. Ball
I’ve never seen a Loon before but I got two in one day!
The Loonie by Laura Jennings
Kereru in Puriri Tree by Judith Pinney (New Zealand)
I am alerting the local bird groups about this sighting though. Who could have anticipated seeing a Kereru here in Northern California? I feel so blessed!
The Karearea – New Zealand Falcon by Judith Briant
I don’t know why there is such an influx of birds from New Zealand. Perhaps this is just an extremely dedicated raptor hunting down some prey.
English Country Garden by Pam Mees
I can’t even begin to name all the English birds seen in this garden. More unexpected birds.
Hey Kahuna! No Trespassing! by Terry Waldron
More amazing shorebirds.
Penguins by Heather Bloom
While you might not expect to see penguins in California. The artist is from my own hometown. Very cool.
Ladies’ Man by Tanya Brown
Is any day of birdwatching complete without a pink flamingo?
mother. wife. friend. teacher. writer. reader. photographer. birder. quilter. blogger.
Liza Lee Miller 
What wonderful bird art! They’re all stunning, though I think my favourite is the first loon. I like your sense of humour as you take us through the birds…
(The British birds btw include: robin, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, wren and blackbird. The others are slightly difficult to recognise from the photo)
Wow!! These are simply gorgeous! Pink flamingo – LOL!
Oh my! I’ve never seen so many birds in one location. Lucky you! ;c)
What talent those people have. Those quilts are absolutely gorgeous.
Beautiful works of art.
I can’t pick a favorite!
(Though the New Zealand Falcon is pulling at me a bit…)
: )
Beautiful Liza. Although having seen them all of my life it took me aback when you said you’ve never seen a Loon. The assumptions one makes.
I too want to say WOW–what gorgeous quilts. Actually, works of art.
I am spell bound. Thanks for a real treat.