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

Sunday, September 22, 2013

THIS IS THE DAY!

This is the kind of day we talk so much about on the hawk watch.
  • Cold Front moving through
  • Socked in by rain the day before
  • NE to NNE winds,10mph or less
  • A few clouds
  • A drop in temps
  • September 20 thru September 30
Broadwings have traditionally made an appearance in years past on these dates under these conditions. Rain usually backs them up north of us,because they don't fly in heavy rains. The cooling temps seem to trigger their inner urge to migrate.  Winds out of the N/NE give lift and lesson head winds resistance.  Sun warmed pavement near the ridge provide thermals that the feilds and trees don't after a rain.  And a few clouds help us see them as they get high. 

If there are Broad Wings ready to move through our area, conditions could be perfect today for seeing them.  Just hope we don't have too much blue sky, or too many foggy/hazy conditions either.  Don't expect much until after 11 am today, but who knows.  Also, Jimmy is banking on late today, or tomorrow because the hawks may need time to fly down to here.

We will see!

On Friday, September 20, we saw 15 BW's all day, under cruel blue skies. But, there was also some movement among the other species: 2 Sharp-shinned, 2 Cooper's, and 1 Osprey were countable.  1 Bald Eagle and 2 more Sharpies were not.

Saturday was a rainout.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP!
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