This note is intended only to update the out-of-town (possibly overseas) chatliner. The new screen at our main wetlands reserve (‘Kelly Swamp’) is quite an improvement, if only because it reduces exposure of waterbirds to intrusions from
the western side of the pond. It is better regarded as a screened observation point than a hide. Below (top) is a view from the screen looking towards the well-known ‘Cygnus ‘hide (green arrow). As it happens a couple of actual (black) cygnuses can be glimpsed
in this view (black arrow). The ducks, if you can see them, are mainly Australasian Shovelers. The bottom view shows the screen looking back from Cygnus hide. As you can see, anyone using the apertures in the screen will be very obvious, but that is the
local policy behind hide design, on the ground that hides should be open and inviting, and the birds probably don’t care if anyone is looking at them anyway. The distant birds in this view (grey arrow) are a half-dozen Hoary-headed Grebes.
