Alongside the building of new hides and ‘structures’ on some of the Orkney reserves, the trusty Loons hide is undergoing a small internal make-over just now. There will be new interpretation boards, along with a mural showing all the wildlife that inhabits the wetland.
The mural is being painted over the coming weeks by one of the Orkney RSPB team. They report back that although it’s a bit chilly and the recent high winds have provoked a certain feeling of vulnerability at times, the hide's not bad as an impromptu painting studio. The view is pretty good (when the rain allows you to see out or you dare open a window) and who can complain when passing visitors include peregrine, short-eared owl , hen harrier and a whole host of waders and wildfowl?
It’s early days for the painting itself. At the moment all there is to see is a bright orange undercoat with a charcoal sketch and some roughed in colours over the top. However, in the next couple of weeks things will develop and there should be a completed painting on the wall in February. In the meantime, do feel free to keep using the hide and the painter would be very grateful for any passing company. There may even be a chocolate digestive on offer....