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, November 10, 2014

Immature Golden Eagle

Thanks to Bill Haley for his reports, as he continues to be able to go up to the hill every chance he gets.  His report for today, includes a note that he has several days this week he plans to watch hawks.

Jimmy reported to TN-birds the following post:

On Nov 10, 2014, at 8:16 PM, TenacBirder@comcast.net wrote:

  11/10/14
 Soddy Mtn Hawk Watch
Hamilton Co., TN

Bill Haley has often jokingly chided me that the hawks don't
 stop flying over the lookout just because Broad-winged season
 is over.  He spent many days on the lookout during October and
 now he has a week off in November.  Today he saw

 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks,
 28 Turkey Vultures,
49 Red-tailed Hawks,
 5 adult Bald  Eagles
and a first of this season immature Golden Eagle.
(updated on this report is 1 Red-shouldered Hawk also seen.)

 If  memory serves me correctly, I think he was also responsible for
the only Golden Eagle on the count last year.

If he reports anything good tomorrow I'll probably be posting
again.

 Keep Looking Up!
 Jimmy Wilkerson


P.S.  On November 6, Bill was up for 2 hours and had
 1 Cooper's Hawk.


We wish to add that we saw and heard Ravens (2 at least) above the Ocoee River at Chilhowee Recreation Area.  Elevation, 2100 ft.  Sunday, November 9th.

It's Red-tailed and Turkey Vulture migration counting time.   We saw about 40 moving through at Chilhowee as we drove along the ridge road.  
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