Its funny, I didn't think about it until i saw your email, but I saw
my first Purple Finches of the winter on Saturday at my feeder too.  Maybe 4
or 5, but they weren't there today at all.   I've started to notice more
Goldfinches in the past two weeks after having seen virtually none until
then.  Every couple of days a band of 8-10 will show up at my feeder for a
few hours and then disappear for a few days.

Eric Feindel
Guilford, VT