Conconut, Ginger and Mushroom Noodles

Coconut, Ginger and Mushroom Noodles

 

This recipe involves several steps, but the final product is worth it! A fragrant and flavorful dish.

 Ingredients

6 Tablespoons oil

1 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup rice vinegar

6 Tablespoons tamari or soy sauce 

12 ounces shiitake or mushrooms of your choice sliced

1-5" piece of ginger peeled and sliced thin

1/2 cup raw cashews

1/2 cup shredded coconut

9 ounces dried soba noodles

1/2 cup frozen corn

8 ounces fresh or frozen green beans

3 medium shallots

 

• Whisk 2 Tablespoons oil, 2 Tablespoons vinegar and  4 Tablespoons soy sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Add 3 oz mushrooms and 1/3 of the ginger. Cook on low for 4 minutes then set aside.

• Spread cashews and coconut separately on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until coconut starts to brown. Remove coconut after 5-7 minutes and continue toasting nuts until golden brown- 7 - 10 minutes total. 

• Heat 2 Tablespoons oil in a dutch oven and saute remaining mushrooms about 5 minutes. Remove mushrooms to a plate.

• Add 1 Tablespoon oil to dutch oven, add corn and green beans and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate.

• Add 1 Tablespoon oil to dutch oven and cook shallots and remaining ginger until soft. Add back in corn, cooked mushrooms and beans. 

• Remove from heat and stir in noodles, cashews, coconut and sauce made in step one.

• Serve with the pickled mushrooms on top.

Meatless Sloppy Joes

Meatless Sloppy Joes

The flavor of these Sloppy Joes is both sweet and spicy. The chopped walnuts add both texture and a unique taste.

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon oil
1 small onion diced
1/4 yellow pepper diced
2 stalks of celery diced
2 carrots diced
2 garlic cloves minced 
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 3/4 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon honey
1 6 oz can tomato paste
2 teaspoons vinegar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1-15 oz can kidney beans drained
1-15 oz can pinto beans drained

Heat oil in large skillet. Add onion, celery and carrots and saute until soft, about 8 - 10 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and saute for 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients and simmer until slightly thickened, and spices have absorbed, about 15 minutes. Serve atop buns.


 

Roasted Cauliflower and Black Beans Tacos

Roasted Cauliflower with Black Beans and Tahini Dressing

If you are in the mood for Mexican with a twist, try this unique taco recipe.

Ingredients

Taco Ingredients:

• 1 batch Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower (see below)
• 1 batch Black Beans (see below)
• 1 batch Cumin Lime Crema (see below)
• corn tortillas*
• toppings: diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, fresh lime wedges, pepitas, and/or thinly-sliced radishes

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Ingredients:

• 1 large head cauliflower (about 2 pounds)
• 4 medium garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon each: ground cumin, kosher salt, paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon each: crushed red pepper flakes, freshly-cracked black pepper, ground turmeric

Refried Black Beans Ingredients:

• 1 small white onion
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon each: chili powder, Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

Cumin Lime Crema Ingredients:

• 1 small garlic clove, peeled and minced
• 1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Mexican hot sauce (such as Cholula)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

 To Make The Tacos:

1. Prepare the cauliflower, refried black beans and crema as directed below.
2. To serve, place a layer of refried black beans in a tortilla, top with roasted cauliflower, a drizzle of the crema, and your desired toppings.

To Make The Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower:

1. Heat oven to 450°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the cauliflower, garlic, olive oil, cumin, salt, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper and ground turmeric until evenly combined.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat, then place the cauliflower in a single layer on the sheet.  Roast for 25-30 minutes until it is tender and browned, stirring once halfway through.
4. Serve immediately.

To Make The Refried Black Beans:

1. Peel and halve the onion, then slice into half-moon shapes.  Drain the beans, reserving 1/2 cup of the can liquid.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.  Add the beans, reserved can liquid, kosher salt, chili powder and black pepper.  Turn the heat to medium low and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring often and smashing the beans toward the end of the cook time, until most of the liquid has cooked out and the texture is mashed and thick.  Scrape the bottom and sides of the pan as necessary.  Taste and season with additional salt as desired.

To Make The Cumin Lime Crema:

In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, lime juice, tahini, olive oil, hot sauce, cumin and salt until evenly combined.  Add 1-2 tablespoons water if necessary to achieve a creamy consistency.

 

Adapted from Gimmesomeoven.com 

 

Hiking Mount Parker

 

Summit of Mount Parker

 Autumn has officially arrived. With cooler temperatures and fewer bugs it is a great time for hiking. The problem may be, particularly during foliage season in New England, that early fall can also be the most crowded time to it the trails. Fortunately, it is still possible to find solitude it you steer clear of the most popular areas. If you are looking for a great hike in the White Mountains away from crowds, Mount Parker in Bartlett, NH is a good option. 

My friend Sue and I arrived at the parking area around 9:00 AM Sunday morning. Surprisingly, we were the only car in the parking lot. For the entire day, we only saw six hikers, quite unusual, especially since this mountain is one of the 52 With a View. We decided to take the Langdon Trail to the Mount Parker Trail, but there is an alternate approach from the Davis Path. The route that we took has 2,800 feet elevation gain, but nothing too difficult. There were lots of switch-backs on the Mount Parker Trail which helped with the ascent.

 

In addition to the view at the top, there were some interest observations, like this star-tipped reindeer lichen (C. stellaris) growing along the side of the trail. It was very pretty sitting in contrast to the red low bush blueberries.

Star-tipped reindeer lichen

There were several trees with burls on them. A burl is an area of abnormal growth on a tree, typically caused by some type of stress, such as an injury or insect infestation. This one was quite large and can be seen with some fresh as well as older growth. They can be very interesting to look at and are often used in woodworking designs. 

 Lots of different fungi grow on trees, but this was the first time I have seen Hericium or Lions Mane in the wild. Apparently it is not uncommon in the Northeastern forests this time of year. This species of mushroom is often recommended for beginner foragers as it is unique in appearance and is prized by many chefs for its unique flavor which I have heard described as tasting like lobster when cooked.  

A very cool looking Hericium

The Granite State got its name for a reason and hikers will see lots of boulders in the woods. If you take a close look, you will often see many types of growth attached.

The above rock looked like it was covered with dried leaves which was actually Rock tripe lichen (Umbilicaria mammulata)

Although I didn't see many mushrooms on the forest floor, there were several types of shelf mushrooms on logs and trees. The following is an example of Fomitopsis pinicola also known as a Red-belted polypore or conk. It is a commonly found on conifer trees.

Fomitopsis pinicola

 

It's easy to see why Fomes fomentarius is referred to as Hoof fungus. It is also called Tinder conk since it can be used to start fires. I read in the USDA's Field Guide to Common Macrofungi in Eastern Forests and Their Ecosystem Functions that there is also a False Tinder conk (Fomes ignarius) which looks very similar so I am not sure which had taken hold of the fallen tree below.

 

As we were heading out of the woods, there was a bald faced hornets nest hanging from a tree. When I Googled Bald Faced Hornet the first few entries were all about pest control companies. This makes sense since they are probably paying to have their information listed in the beginning of searches. However, it is much better to think of these creatures as beneficial. hey hunt and eat other insects and serve as a pollinator of plants. 

Baldfaced Hornets Nest

 

Most often their nests will be high up in trees. Of course you don't want a nest built outside your front door, so be diligent in the spring when the queen will start building her new home. If you see a small nest starting, go out after dark and knock it down. You may have to do this a couple times, but this will usually be sufficient to encourage her to build a nest elsewhere. 

I am hoping that there are several more nice weekends before the snow and ice arrives so that I can check off several more peaks with views and discover some more surprises found in nature.

Coconut Rice with Spicy Chicken Thighs

Stewed Chicken and Coconut Rice

Ingredients

4 Chicken thighs

  

Sauce:

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
4 cloves garlic minced
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger minced
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 chili pepper chopped
1 bay leaf salt and pepper

Coconut Rice:
1 cup rice
1 14-oz can coconut milk
1/2 cup water
Dash salt
2 Tablespoons toasted coconut
1 scallion chopped

Mix together ingredients for sauce in a dutch oven over medium heat until simmering. Add chicken thighs, skin side down, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Turn chicken and cook another 15 minutes or until done. When chicken is cooked through, remove and place on a foil lined tray and set in oven at 375 degrees for 10 minutes, then broil on high until browned, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile simmer sauce until reduced and slightly thicken.

While chicken is cooking make rice. Bring rice, coconut milk, water and salt to a boil. Reduce to low, cover and simmer until done, about 20-25 minutes. Add more water if needed. Fluff rice when done and add coconut.

Serve  chicken with rice and sauce and sprinkle with scallions. 

A Summer Hike up Mount Crawford and Mount Resolution

 

Another great weekend to go hiking. Although it was humid, the temperature was only in the seventies and the skies were overcast which kept it from being too hot. Now on a mission to check off peaks on the 52 With a View list, my friend and I selected Mount Crawford off Route 302 in Crawford Notch. Surprisingly, the parking lot was not very crowded, which made for a quiet day on the trail. 

 

The trail begins by crossing a suspension bridge over the Saco River and after passing a couple private residences enters the woods. The hike up to Mount Crawford utilizes the Davis Path. Completed in 1845, the Davis Path was originally built by Nathaniel Davis as a bridle path to summit Mount Washington. Although, not even used for ten years before falling into disrepair, it was not abandoned, but was converted to a foot path in 1910 and exists today as one of the oldest continuously used trails in the White Mountains.  

 

It is August, so spotting mushrooms while hiking is a common occurrence. Although I am not a mushroom expert, I love searching for them in the woods and admire their many shapes, colors and sizes. Here is a beautiful specimen of a coral mushroom which I believe to be Ramaria aurea or Golden Coral fungus.

 

The trail starts off relatively flat, but once the climbing begins, it is relentless. At around 2.0 miles,  the trail opens out of the woods to ledges revealing the first of many fine views. 

Views from ledges along Davis Path

 

At 2.2 miles, a .3 mile spur path leads to the summit of Mount Crawford. Just before reaching the peak,there was a Spruce Grouse standing in the middle of the path. He was not frightened by our appearance, standing there for awhile before eventually walking into the shrubs. On our descent, he was there again in the same spot.

Spruce grouse with distinctive red eyebrow

At the summit, we sat and had our lunch, sharing the summit with only two other people. Although the full views were somewhat blocked by low hanging clouds, the were still impressive.

A brief opening of blue sky atop Mount Crawford

After rejoining the Crawford Path, instead of returning to the parking lot, we continued North toward Mount Resolution, another peak on the 52 With a View list. It was a pleasant walk on the Davis Path for the 1.5 miles to the Mt. Parker trail which leads to Mount Resolution and Mount Parker. Just .7 miles past the Mt. Parker trail is the side trail that leads to the summit of Stairs Mountain. Both Parker and Stairs are also on the List, but time would only allow us to do Resolution. The Mt. Parker Trail up Resolution has some nice views looking back towards Mount Crawford.

Looking toward Mt. Crawford from top of Mount Resolution

Although berry season has been over for a couple weeks at home, there were plenty of ripe blueberries on the bushes along the ledges of Resolution.

Wild blueberries

All in all, It was a great hike and I am looking forward to returning to the area to tackle Mount Parker and Stairs Mountain.

Vegetable Potato Korean Style Pancakes

Vegetable Potato Korean Style Pancakes

Here is a quick and easy light meal. Perfect for any day of the week.

Pancake Batter
1/2 cup flour
1 Potato peeled and shredded
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup ice water
1 large egg
1/4 cup kimchi or other fermented substitute 
4 cups grated/chopped vegetables (I used carrots, kale, green pepper and spinach) 
4 scallions, sliced thin
2 Tablespoons oil

Dipping Sauce
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon grated giner
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

In a large bowl sift flour, salt and baking powder. In separate bowl combine potatoes, vegetables and three-quarters of the scallions, saving the rest for garnish. Whisk together water, kimchi and eggs and add to vegetable mixture. Add to dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Heat heavy skillet with oil. When hot, scoop about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until crispy on each side (about 3 minutes each.) Transfer to an oven safe platter and keep in warm oven while you cook the remaining pancakes.

Whisk together dipping sauce ingredients and serve on the side with the pancakes.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk (Juvenile)

Our back yard has become very quiet this week. After months of almost continuous calling from a family of Red-shouldered hawks, they appear to have moved on, although one has occasionally reappeared to circle over our yard. When I first heard the loud vocalization of this bird, I did not know what type of hawk it was. After several days of incessant calling, I decided to walk through our woods to see if I could catch a glimpse. Within a few minutes, a hawk flew right in front of me and then I spotted another perched stately on a tree. Although it must have known that I was there, it didn't appear threatened by my presence. Since I had seen two birds, I figured that they must have a nest nearby. It was not easy to see, but I eventually found the nest, sitting high in a tree across from a small pond.

Nest for Red-shouldered Hawks

I read that they like to live in forests with an open canopy and that they hunt from perches below the canopy or at the edge of a pond. The location of this nest was perfect for them.  The Birds of America by John James Audubon shows a picture of a Red-shouldered hawk hunting in their preferred habitat. The caption reads that they are beneficial since their diet is "largely composed of destructive rodents." The Cornell Lab All About Birds website reads that they also eat toads, snakes and crayfish.

Drawing of Red-shouldered Hawk from Audubon's The Birds of America

Although they can look similar to Broad-winged hawks, the distinct difference is their call. You have most likely heard a Red-shouldered hawk in the woods. Once you can identify its call you will probably realize how often you have heard them.




According to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Red-shouldered hawks have shown a decline in population from 1966 - 2003. There are most likely various contributing factors, but one cause, as with many other species is habitat loss due to human's changing the landscape. Where these hawks were breeding in our back yard, they were surrounding by houses on four sides. We we have kept the woods intact as has one other neighbor. The other two property owners have cleared the trees for backyard playing areas and a swimming pool. These incremental changes, when the occur across the landscape can have wide-spread impacts to a species as a whole.We should all keep this in mind as we design and maintain our homes.

Grilled Salmon and Asparagus with Salad

Grilled Salmon and Asparagus

With summer comes grilling and lots of salads. This recipe, adapted from Rachael Ray and The Food Network Kitchen includes both as well as my favorite vegetable. It was very dry earlier this which impacted my asparagus production, but it still provided enough for a meal, every two to three days.

This recipe serves two.

Orange vinaigrette dressing
1/2 large orange
1 Tablespoon chopped shallots
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 Tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper

Whisk together ingredients for vinaigrette and set aside.

Prepare Salmon and Asparagus:
1-bunch asparagus spears
2 (4-6 oz) salmon fillets
Salt and pepper
Olive oil

Blanch asparagus in boiling water for 30 seconds, then remove to a plate. Brush salmon with olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Place on pre-heated grill and cook about 5 minutes each side, more or less to your preference.

For Salad
Assorted salad greens
1/4 cup Kalamata olives sliced in half
1/2 large orange
1/4 cup sliced red onion
salt and pepper

While salmon is grilling, combine salad ingredients and divide onto two plates. Just before the salmon is done, coat asparagus in olive oil, lightly salt and add to grill. Cook for about 3 minutes, turning frequently. Serve on plate with salmon, salad and vinaigrette. 

Take a Hike

Champney Falls Trailhead

It has been awhile since I have been hiking in the White Mountains and it was great to get back on the trail. On Sunday my friend Sue and I hiked up to Middle Sister in Albany, New Hampshire. The hike started on the Champney Falls Trail, which is one of the approaches to popular Mt. Chocorua. The parking lot off the Kancamaugus Highway  was full when we arrived and I suspect that most people were either hiking to the falls or up to the more popular Chocorua.

The lower portion of the trail to Champney and Pitcher falls would make a great hike for families of all ages as it is only about 1.5 miles one way with an easy grade. The relatively dry spring we have had made for easy stream crossings. The falls were probably not running as strong as typical in spring, but there was enough water to still be impressive.

A series of cascades form Champney Falls

Sue had hiked here before and knew that in order to see Pitcher Falls, you need to cross over Champney Brook and enter a narrow gorge. It's a pretty cool spot and would be a great place to cool off on a hot day.

Pitcher Falls on the right

After viewing the falls, we connected back up to the Champney Falls trail and began to climb more steadily. It wasn't long before we reached the cut-off to the Middle Sister trail. Along this trail are some of the finest views of the hike.

Views from the Middle Sister Cut-off

In addition to some great views, the cut-off trail also had a nice patch of mountain laurel, which were in bloom.

Mountain Laurel

The cool, breezy weather made for a great day of hiking, keeping the bugs away, but also cut short our stay at the top since there really wasn't a good spot to sit out of the wind. There is a cool foundation, which once house a fire groundhouse, but it provided no shelter since the stairs just lead to about a twenty foot drop-off.

Steps lead an opening at the top.

At the base of the foundation is a door, posted with a notice that there are archeological resources in the vicinity that are protected under the Antiquities Act of 1906. This fire lookout site is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. It was in operation from 1927 to 1942. I am not sure if the sign is to protect the artifacts of the fire lookout, or if there are other archeological resources at this site. 

Door at base of fire lookout

Antiquities Act Sig

After enjoying the great views, which include Mount Chocorua in the distance, we returned to the cut-off trail to enjoy lunch.

The ridge to Mount Chocorua

I would rank this hike in the top tier of favorites as it offers a lot of variety for a relatively short duration and is only moderately strenuous.It is listed as one of the "52 with a View" and there is no question as to why.

Pasta with Beans and Spring Vegetables

Radiatore Pasta with Cannelini Beans and Spring Vegetables

Ingredients
2 cups Radiatore pasta
2 medium red potatoes cut into 2 inch cubes
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon butter
1 bunch asparagus
1 cup peas
1 leek rinsed well
1/2 medium onion chopped
1 can cannellini beans
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
chopped parsley and chives
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper 
Crushed red pepper (optional)

Now that warmer weather is here (it was over 90 degrees today) that means that meal prep needs to be simple and quick. This recipe is made mostly on a sheet pan and putting it together is a breeze.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray sheet pan with olive oil. In a bowl, toss potatoes with 1 Tablespoon olive oil, then spread on pan and bake for 10 minutes. Slice asparagus into thirds, and cut leek lengthwise, then slice into 1/2 inch pieces. Toss with 1 Tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper and add to sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until done, stirring occasionally.

Cook pasta. When pasta is done, turn off water and add peas and let sit for a minute before rinsing.

Melt butter in a large pan, add onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add beans, parsley and chives and heat through. Add baked veggies, pasta and peas. Stir in remaining olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper to taste. Serve with fresh grated Parmesan and additional parsley and chives, if desired.

Spring Birding

White-throated sparrow

With few other activities allowed, I have spent a lot of  time outside with my binoculars, walking fields and woods looking for birds, especially those returning from their spring migration. May is a great month to look for the warblers, many that you can only see this time of year. This blog highlights a few, but also other birds that I have observed so far this spring.

The most common warbler this year is the Yellow-rumped or Myrtle warbler. The other day there were more than I could count in the trees and brush around Horseshoe Pond in Concord, New Hampshire. They were not shy and would freely come out into the open as if saying "look at me, I am so pretty!".

Male Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) warbler

Female Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) warbler

Distinctive Yellow rump

Every so often, I get lucky with my camera and capture a clear in-motion picture

Yellow-rumped warbler in flight.

A bit more elusive, I was excited to get a photo of a Black-throated green warbler.

Black-throated green warbler

Although warblers have been my focus lately, for some, the larger birds are more interesting.For example,  two Brown thrashers startled us as they romped around in the brush  at Riverland Conservation area in Canterbury. We heard them tossing tossing leaves into the air before we saw them, so it's not hard to discern how they got their name.

Brown thrasher 

The Rose-breasted Grosebeak is very colorful and a beautiful bird to listen to as well. Like Robins, they love to sing (click on the picture below.)

Rose-breasted Grosebeak

One of the most impressive sites is seeing a flock of Cedar waxwings. You will seldom see just one. On Mother's Day I counted sixteen in one tree. Like all of us these days, they are always wearing a mask.

A flock of cedar waxwings

Cedar Waxwing

As the weather warms, insects become more prevalent. Although a nuisance for us, they provide needed sustenance for birds directly, but they also support fish and other aquatic life, which in turn are eaten by larger birds such as this Kingfisher.

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron's are not uncommon, but are always impressive. In spite of their large size they can sometimes be overlooked because they keep very still when stalking fish. When a fish comes close enough, they quickly lower their neck and grab it with their large beak.

A Great blue heron standing still as a statue

Many raptors hunt fish. In April, Ospreys can be seen near waterbodies as they return from Central and South America. This bird below flew directly over our heads and then perched on a dead tree overlooking a pond. They are great fishers, diving from as high as 100 feet to catch their prey (NationalGeographic.com)

Osprey

One raptor, that has made a successful comeback, after becoming practically extinct in New Hampshire, is the Bald Eagle. They were once federally endangered due to the widespread use of the chemical DDT. Their return to the landscape, is an example of the success of the Endangered Species Act. They were removed as a federally listed species in 2007, but they remain legally protected in New Hampshire. It is no longer uncommon to spot them year round, especially near the Merrimack River.

A bald eagle takes flight at Knights Meadow Marsh in Webster, N.H.

New Hampshire has some great birding areas, but I cannot forgot that I often don't need to leave our yard to observe some fantastic birds, sometimes when I least expect it. The other day, while I was refilling a thistle feeder, both a Common Yellowthroat and a Prairie warbler landed in a juniper bush right next to me. Of course I didn't have my camera with me, but the next morning the Prairie warbler was back and I took the photo below from inside the house.

Prairie Warbler in a Juniper bush.

I put a hummingbird feeder out on May 1st, which was probably a little early, especially since we got snow on May 9th. However, two weeks later, the first male Ruby-throated humming bird showed up. The females will follow shortly.

The first Ruby-throated hummingbird of the season

 After seeing a friend post a picture of a Baltimore Oriole on Facebook, I decided to set out some orange slices to try and attract them. It took about four days, but it worked!

Baltimore oriole

Typically there are lots of expert led bird-walks in May, but this year, with the Coronovirus pandemic, the casual birder has been left on their own. I still need a lot more practice to be able to quickly identify many birds in the field.  But, if I am lucky enough to snap a picture, I can try and identify it later.To help me with my identifications, I use the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds; the Cornell lab's All About Birds website and their accompanying Merlin Bird App. With Merlin you can either describe the basic categories of the bird, or you can upload a photo, and it will give you a list of  possible choices. The app is great to put on your phone to make quick identifications. It can also be helpful to check eBird and see what birds have recently been sighted in your area. I will be glad when I can once again wander the trails with fellow birders, but for now, I am just grateful to be able to get outside and enjoy our feathered friends.