Upsilon¹ Hydrae marks one of the 'coils' of Hydra, and the snake curls toward the northeast here: binoculars.

The star the farthest east in this field of vision, lambda Hydra, marks about a third of the way down the Hydra's outstretched form. It's due south from Regulus (alpha Leonis) and is a convenient point if you wish to study the constellation lying between Hydra and Leo at this point, which is Sextans.
     Alpha Sextantis is most easily found by drawing a line between Regulus and lambda Hya; it lies almost exactly at the midpoint on this line.

Now place lambda at the northwest corner of your field of vision. Mu Hydrae will appear at the far opposite corner: binoculars.