There have been 75-100 redpolls at my feeders this winter. They are flighty and continually spook into flight. They drive out all other birds by their sheer numbers. The winter flocks of chickadee, woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches and juncos seem to wait until this rowdy flocks flies and then they slip into the feeding area, grab and run before the next wave of redpolls flutter down. I haven't seen a goldfinch since January after 8 years of goldfinches being the mainstay of the winter feeders.
Redpolls are a mixed blessing.
C.F. Monday, March 13. It is 8 am Monday morning. We have about 5 inches of new snow, there isn't a spot of bare ground anywhere and the branches of the bushes and trees are ice-covered. There are a few gaps, but not many. J.F. Monday, March 13.