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).
Common kingfisher (カワセミ) and great egret (ダイサギ)
Great egret (Ardea alba, ダイサギ)
Great egret (Ardea alba, ダイサギ)
Grey heron (Ardea cinerea, アオサギ)
Oriental greenfinch (Chloris sinica, カワラヒワ)
Japanese tit (Parus minor, シジュウカラ)
Red-flanked bluetail male (Tarsiger cyanurus, ルリビタキ ♂)
Pink plum blossoms
Red pine grove at the Omifuji Botanical Gardens
Great egret (Ardea alba, ダイサギ)
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.