February 4-18 is the beginning of Spring, Risshun (立春) in the traditional Japanese calendar of 24 seasons. The middle micro-season in Risshun, Kōō kenkan su (黄鶯睍睆), is February 9-13. Here are some photographs of birds and flowers that I took February 11-13 during Kōō kenkan su in 2020.
February 11
On February 11 I rode my mountain bike across Yasugawa and up Oyamakawa through Mikami and Omifuji and then to the Omifuji Botanical Gardens in Kitazakura, Yasu City (map).
February 12
On February 12 I walked around my neighborhood and then down to a nearby river, Yasugawa (野洲川). I spent most of my time looking at scenery.
February 13
On February 13 my wife and I went to Lake Biwa, first to a waterfowl observation place along the shore in Kusatsu City and then to the Kusatsu Aquatic Botanical Gardens (草津市立水生植物公園みずの森).
Most of the beautiful flowers that we see in February have been planted by people, but the birds migrate here naturally and bring their own colors.