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 7, 2016

Film and Fire!

The fire on the ridge line south of the watch, may hamper what we are able to see today??? Depending on the winds I suppose.  The smoke is lying thick in the valley this morning.  Will it deter hawks moving south along the ridge?  This is something we luckily have never faced to any degree in the past. Although we have often viewed fires that sprung up in the valley,  we have never really experienced a day when the fire was so near.

But this will be data too.  What we discover today, one day before elections, and on our filming day, is how will the smoke effect where, or if the birdS will migrate today.  A bit cool this morning.  Dressing to suit the day.  Jimmy and I will join Bill for the morning at least.  Come on up if you can!

Today for sure, we will need to:

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!
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