Went for a 3 hour paddle today.  No ice on the river but some snow on the shores.  Lots of migratory birds.  There is a bird that looks like a loon but has a different shaped head.  They would not let me get close enough to get a good look. I paddled up along side of a coyote that must have been sleeping in a sunny spot.  He jumped up and took off from about 30 feet from me. Never fear summer will arrive soon.