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

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Thanksgiving Week Data



Bill has sent a couple more days. We'll get caught up and now and again after Thanksgiving.  Let me say in advance that I hope everyone has a wonderful time Thursday, good food and family.  I am certain our family has much to be thankful for! 

Bill's reports:
Friday
November 17, 2017

When I saw an eagle in a glide coming straight for the lookout, I wondered if it might be the Golden I have been hoping for. The head was a light color, but was it golden or white? Turned out to be mostly white, on a probable 3rd or 4th year Bald Eagle. Tail was white at the base with a pretty distinct dark terminal band.Still a nice sight as it turned one circle right at the lookout and then sailed on south. I swear it turned its head to look my way!

Weather: Clouds : 10% @ 10:15, increasing to 20% for the rest of the time I was there. Wind: very light, from calm to NE 1-3, Temperature : 49 F - 52 F. Barometric pressure: 30.21. Humidity: 71% - 61%. Visibility: 40K.

Raptors by the hour:
10:15-11:00 - TV 9, RT 2
11:00-12:00 - TV 5, BE 1, RS 1, RT 2

TOTAL RAPTORS: 20 (TV 14, BE 1, RS 1, RT 4)

Counter: Bill Haley,  10:15-12:000

Reporting : Bill Haley
 
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Sunday
November 19, 2017
 
Strong wind out of the NW this afternoon, usually not great for us. Thankfully, I didn't get  skunked! Batteries on my weather radio quit, so weather reports are minimal. Winds were NW 5-10, with some stronger gusts. Clouds were 60% @ 1:00, 30% @ 2:00. Tenperature 49 F. Visibility was 45 K.

Hawks by the hour :
1:00-2:00 - NH 1, RT 1
2:00-3:00 - RT 1
TOTAL HAWKS - 3

All three hawks came through very high.

Counter: Bill Haley,  1:00-3:00

Reporting : Bill Haley
 
 
_____________________________________
 
These 23 birds push us over 2900 Raptors counted for the season.  A couple of good pushes of TV's could get us into the 3000 bird category. 
 
Happy Thanksgiving! Everyone.
 
Take a minute to be thankful for the grand world God made, and the assurances that each season will come and go, and migrations will continue as they have for thousand of years.  I am thankful I got to see its evidence with my own eyes. And all it took was a commitment to
 
KEEP LOOKIN UP!!!
 
Cynthia for All of us on the Hawk Watch Team!
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