Still not spring

Overnight low 15 F, winds gusting to 36 mph.  Redpolls gusting to over 40 -- into the range where counting turns arbitrary.

Scattered snow in the air.

I swear, if Wife didn't get deathly seasick, we'd be considering one of those Carnival Cruise Line specials they've been waving around.

Notes on design

If you are designing a bird-feeder intended for redpolls, don't bother putting more than six perches on it.  Eight are a waste of effort.  Even six represents an unstable social system, with a half-life of seconds before the squabbles break out.

Goldfinches seem to be able to munch away on all eight thistle perches without warfare.

Crocus!

We have one (1) undeniable crocus flower in our side yard.  White.  Granted, the bulb has tucked itself* in tight against the foundation, where it gets benefit of both our furnace and the reflected heat of the sun, and the snow-bank starts about a foot away, but the flower HAS OPENED!

And shut again for the night, but it was there.  I saw it.  I even pointed it out to Wife, as a witness.

*What?  Your plants don't migrate?