SITE DESCRIPTION

SITE DESCRIPTION:
"The Soddy Mountain hawk lookout is located in southeast Tennessee on the eastern face of Walden's Ridge (the Cumberland Escarpment) in Hamilton County, a short distance north of the town of Soddy-Daisy, TN. It lies at the eastern terminus of Jones Gap Road atop a bluff overloooking Hwy. 111 and the beautiful Tennessee River Valley to the east. The hawk lookout location is state-owned land, and there are currently no restroom or eating facilities nearby. Hawk watchers are advised to bring their own folding lawn chair, sunscreen, a hat, and drinking water, as well as binoculars and a field guide. Caution should be used at all times, especially if children are present, as there is no fence to prevent a fall off the nearby 75 foot bluff. The hawk lookout proper is level ground." *

No Shelter is available, and parking is on a level below the lookout grounds. The climb to the watch site is up a steep bank about 8' high. Other helpful tools might include an umbrella or spotting scope, although on a good day, you might not find time to use either.*

Courtesy of William G. (Bill) Haley, compiler and author of the brochure, Soddy Mountain Hawk Lookout, produced for TOS.

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk
Falconer Mr. Johnson's Red-tail

Monday, September 26, 2016

Two Day Report - up to 1269 BW Grand Total

Broad-wing Passing the moon
 
Sunday was sooo super hot.  Intense, and difficult for even the short hours we as watchers put in to it. Jimmy and I were there by 10:30 and stayed the 2 hours until 12:30. 

We needed to leave for an important 6 year old's birthday party.  So our fellow hawk watcher, Bill Holt, offered to fill some time. And though we hated not seeing him in person, were so thankful for his kindness.  He too braved the heat, and showed that hawks just weren't visible, or just weren't there.

Our morning totals:
3 Broad-wings
1 Cooper's Hawk
Then,
Bill's email for the afternoon results:

"9/24/2016 Soddy Mtn Hawk Watch
2:00 8 broad wing
3:30 1 northern harrier
Observations between 1:45 and 4, between 10 to 25% cloud cover. Super hot. Saw 3 BE diving on each other. Lost them before I saw them go south. Lots of TV and BV trying to deceive. 
Sorry to have missed you two. 

Bill"
 
Well those pesky Bald Eagles were out there too. LOL
 
Sunday, 9 24, 2016
Broad-wings 11
Northern Harriers 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
 
Isn't it fun to have Bald Eagles just flying around with the Vultures? 
Today, Jim Rowell arrived early, and was on the watch by 8am. We came later, by 10:15, and Roi and Debbie Shannon also joined us by 11am.  Thunderstorms were predicted in our area by 2pm, but came early. We left at threat of possible lightning, and as we waited for it to pass, were not surprised to see it become a general rain all across the mountain top and valley as well.  So we all went home.  We needed the rest, and the rain.  Looking forward to tomorrow and clean clear skies, cooler temps.
 
Here are the stats:
 
MONDAY, 9 26, 2016
 BW 6
NH  1
 
Our New Grand Total is 1269 BW's
IT IS NOT TOO LATE to get some good kettles of BW's.  One of our best years, the best day was Sept 29th.
______________________________
Our Saturday Day list was probably the most complete of any day yet, so I thought I would put up that list for a general example of what is being seen and heard there during the day:
 
Red-shouldered Hawk
Eastern Bluebird
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Carolina Chickadee
Pileated Woodpecker
Cedar Waxwing
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Northern Flicker
Tufted Titmouse
American Goldfinch
Brown Thrasher
White-breasted Nuthatch
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Blue Jay
Black Vulture
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk
Brown Thrasher
Rock Dove
Chimney Swift
Magnolia Warbler
Carolina Wren
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Crow 
 
 
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