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, April 7, 2014

Only One Broad-wing Today

Sunday from about 12:30 to about 3:15 we saw only 1 Broad-winged hawk and 1 Red Tail.
Although the winds were from the south, 5 to 15 mostly, the totally overcast skies and coldness of the wind, were good indicators that the migrators would be busy hunkering down before the weather front moved in with rain.  The clouds were very high, and vultures and planes were very visible against them even with bare eyes.  So we feel sure we didn't miss anything that might have come through.  Will be interesting to see what comes through after this heavy rain.
Keep looking up!
Cynthia
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