On my way to a meeting on Tuesday I realized I was going to be a half-hour early, so I decided to explore some back roads near Tivoli, New York, at the northern end of Dutchess County, before my meeting in Annandale-on-Hudson.

The day was seriously cold, so a south-facing roadside embankment where the snow cover had mostly melted off before the recent plunge in temperature was a miniature mecca for multiple species.  Several bluebirds were the first to show themselves (which made me pull over), followed quickly by two robins, a Carolina Wren, a couple of White-throated Sparrows, a male cardinal, and, wonderfully, a Hermit Thrush (my first of the year in New York).  When a truck passed by going the opposite direction the only birds left within decent photo range were the robins and White-throated Sparrows.

A little later on a Turkey Vulture flushed from feeding on roadkill.

Not bad for a half-hour!