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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JTweedie" data-source="post: 1418778" data-attributes="member: 8075">I've never really had any bad experiences myself.  Had a few occasions of people being quite loud, but generally I find they don't stay for long (in my experience these are normally families with small children).  However it sometimes feels strange when in a hide with others and there's not a sound.  I'd prefer a little bit of discussion about what's being seen, perhaps even recommendations of other nearby sites.  There was one occasion when I was approaching a hide at Baron's Haugh reserve and heard a gang of teenagers inside shouting and drinking - so I just walked past, it didn't spoil my visit to the reserve as there were plenty of other quiet spots to be found.I also think for many non-regular birders, i.e. probably most visitors to RSPB reserves, the hides are the focal point of the reserve, this is where I'd expect many people think they should head to - if they're not in the hide then they're not "experiencing" what's on view.  I always visit the hides myself, but it's often the paths leading to the hides where the best birding is to be had, while I see people rushing past on their way to the hide!</blockquote>