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

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Migration Underway- Sept 13TH - 15th ReportS

My heart is warmed to see watchers on the hill. They are sending these great reports for this week.  
A hurricane just coming in off the coasts of the Carolinas didn't produce any oddities so far, but local BW's flying north remind us of an increase in the sightings of nesting pairs locally.  How cool to call a few BW's locals... Looking forward to the stats this year.

Thanks Jim, Bill and Tammy.
Thursday, Sept 13., 2018 Report:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk lookout, Sept. 13, 2018.
 Arrived: 0830 (Jim Rowell), 1015 (Bill Haley). Left 1500. 

Discovered weather radio is inoperable, as a battery had exploded sometime this summer and caused bad corrosion within battery compartment. New batteries didn't work. Weather info will be incomplete. 

1000: Wind NE 1-3, clouds 20%, visibility.  15K,  temp.  79F,  barometric.  30.09, hum. 90%.
1100: Wind NE 2-5, clouds 35%, temp. 83,  visibility.  25K.
1200: Temp. 86F,  visibility.  35K. 
1300: Clouds 30%, temp. 88 F. 
14:00: Clouds 40%, temp. 90. 

Osprey: (1) 12:23,  (1) 1:10.

Broad-wing: (3) 11:27, (1) 12:17, (1) 12:29, (2) 2:23.

Final total:
 
(9/13/ 18)
OS 2
BW 7.
[Raptor Tot. 9]
 
Counters: Jim Rowell,  Bill Haley. (6.5 hrs.)

Of interest, an adult Broad-winged Hawk landed below the lookout on a lower wire above Hwy. 111 to look for prey. Later flew back north. Probably a local bird that has not begun the migration. Bird was not counted.

Two Bald Eagles flying north. Not counted.

Also seen: ~Butterflies~
 
Sept. 13, 2018
Cloudless Sulphur  61
Monarch 5
 
Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley, Jr."




Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 Report:

 "Arrived: 0830 (Jim Rowell), 1100 (Bill Haley). Left: 1500.

Weather data incomplete - no weather radio.

1100: Clouds 5%, wind NE 8-12, visibility  40K,  temp. 80F. 
1200: Clouds 15%, visibility.  65K,  temp. 85F.
1300: Clouds 5%, temp. 87F. 
1400: Clouds 25%, temp. 91 F.
1500: Clouds 40%, temp. 92 F.

Cooper's Hawk: (1) 10:04.

Broad-winged Hawk: (1) 10:55, (2) 10:57, (1) 11:48, (2) 2:37, (1) 2:45.

Red-tailed Hawk.; (1) 1:03. 
 
Note: This may be the earliest RT I've ever counted. Bird was in sight from a speck to the north and in a constant glide all the way south.  Very distinct and dark belly band and overall much darker markings than any of the local birds seen so far. More like western RT markings.

Two BW, one AD, one IMM. seen flying north. Neither bird counted. Local birds.

Five BE, 3 AD, 2 IMM., seen flying north. None counted.

(3) local RT, (1) local RS. None counted.

Final totals:
 
Friday 9/14/18
CH 1
BW  7
RT 1
________________
[Total Raptors - 9]
 
 
Counters: Jim Rowell,  Bill Haley (6.5 hrs.)

Also seen: ~Butterflies~
Cloudless Sulphur 72
Monarch 2

Reporting: William G.  Haley,  Jr."
 
 
 
Saturday, Sept 15, 2018 Report:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk totals, Sept. 15, 2018:
 Arrive 8:15 ( Jim Rowell), 9:15 (Bill Haley), 11:45 (Tammy King). 

Weather:
0900: Clouds 10%, wind NE 8-15, visibility 70 K,  temp. 78F.
1000: Clouds 20%, wind ENE 10-15.
1100: Clouds 40%, temp. 83 F
1200: Clouds 45%, temp. 84 F, baro. 29.98, hum. 75%.
1300: Clouds 20%, temp. 86 F, Baro.  29.97, wind NE 8-12.
14:00; Clouds 35%, temp. 88 F, baro.  30.02, hum. 54%, 
1500: Clouds 60%, temp. 90 F, baro. 29.94, hum. 59%.

Sharp-shinned Hawk: (1) 11:15, (1) 1:12
Cooper's Hawk: (1) 11:124,  (1) 11:52
Broad-winged Hawk: (1) 10:44, (2) 10:57, (4) 11:05, (2) 11:07, (1) 11:15,  (1) 11:18,  (1) 11:31,  (1) 11:39,  (1) 11:45,  (1) 12:09,  (1) 12:23,  (1) 12:27,  (1) 1:34, (1) 2:00, (1) 2:29. 

Totals: 9/15/18
 SS 2
CH 2
BW 20
______________
[ RaptorTotal - 24]
 

Counters: Jim Rowell 8:15-3:00, Bill Haley 9:15: 4:00, Tammy King 11:45-4:00. 

Migrant Butterflies: Cloudless Sulphur 49, Monarch 4.

Reporting; William G. Haley, Jr. "

 
 
 You might notice that Bill has included some local stats, which we sometimes don't keep, nice to see these especially since we can't be there. Sorry we couldn't join you guys. 
Appreciate the report!
 
 As always ~
KEEP LOOKING UP!
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment