Soot Throat

.... is the translation of the tufted duck's Latin name. Shooting directly into the light, my tufty is a silhouette, so sootier than usual. I was standing near the new Wildlife Discovery Centre and Bittern Hide which overlooks over Seventy Acres Lake. It has been built at great expense to replace the original Bittern Hide. I wonder when it will open? I do hope dogs will be allowed in it. Quite a few people I have spoken to have said that the aspect, facing west, is wrong for a hide. I agree.