Theta Hydrae is the mid-point along the Hydra's neck. It's a 3.9 visual magnitude star with an optical companion.

Putting theta Hydrae at the northwest corner, you'll see tau-1 and tau-2: binoculars with a subtle colour contrast, cream-white and pale blue. The bright star just out of the field of vision to the southeast is iota Hydrae; this star has a soft red colour to it.

Tau-1 (4.6) has a wide seventh-magnitude companion, about 66" away.

If you place tau-1 at the top of your field of vision, alpha Hydrae comes into view: binoculars.