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

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD?

In response to the following email from Mark McShane, and because Bill said he hoped to see one yesterday, Jimmy and Bill had the following email conversation:
Hi All,
Patrick Maurice just messaged from the field at West Point Lake saying that they have SABINE'S GULL, MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, a JAEGER, and 5 tropical terns, both SOOTY and BRIDLED. Hopefully more from the West Point crew later.
"Good Birding All
Mark McShane"
*****
Hey Bill;
Your Magnificent Frigatebird has made it as far as the Georgia Alabama border. Could it make it to Soddy Mountain Lookout?
Hawk count numbers were good yesterday allover the northeast!
Jimmy W.
****
Jimmy;
Who knows what might show up after this gigantic storm? Weather channel says it will start clearing here sometime Thursday afternoon, but I guess any birds moving immediately will depend on which way the storm moves. If it keeps moving dead north, that might delay the hawks awhile longer. If it slides off to the west, will the hawks immediately move? I don't have any programs until 12:00 on Friday, so I might try to go up there that morning, maybe from 8-11, to look for that frigatebird and the hawks. I know Jim is planning on being up there whenever he can, and I'm sure he'll be there Thursday afternoon and Friday. Mr. "gung-ho" (Jim Rowell) has been getting up there at 8:00 every day, but so far has seen nothing. That might change Friday!
I have my fingers crossed for Saturday. It could be good! I'll have to check the NE sites. Our falconer, Mr. Johnson, is slated to bring his Red-tailed Hawk up to show the Nature Nuts sometime that morning.
Bill"
*******
There are some great expectations for Soddy Mountain going on..Thursday might be a very unususal day if weather breaks. I certainly don't think I can ID some of what might show up. LOL
I do know the Magnificent Frigatebird when I see one though.
Again, weather will be watched to know when to go up Today or tomorrow.
and who knows what you'll see if you
KEEP LOOKING UP!
 
Copied from Facebook post - am 9/13/2017 https://www.facebook.com/Soddy-Mountain-Hawk-Watch-1608121316117914/timeline/
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