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

Sunday, October 21, 2018

NOT SKUNKED!

Clouds opened later in the day than predicted, and it continued to rain until after lunch, but...

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals
Sat., Oct. 20, 2018

Coverage (all times EST):
1300-1500 = 2.0 hrs.
Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: A rainy morning yielded to some clearing this afternoon. 90% clouds @ 1300, 80% @ 1400. Wind started NW 1-5, increased to WNW 10-15 by 1500. Temperature 62 F - 64 F. Barometric pressure 30.04 - 30.02.

When I saw some blue sky at 1:30, I headed up to the lookout, just in case any hawks or TV's might be moving. Good news is I didn't get skunked!

Hawks:
10/20/18 
1300: SS 2
1400: SS 1
__________
Raptor Total = 3 

Sharp-shinned 3

Other sightings: 
Tree Swallow 3, Chimney Swift 1
Monarch butterfly 3

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."
 
A cold Sunny day predicted Sunday.  Lots of blue skies. Warm clothes will be needed.  Since I am posting this Sunday morning, I can say that at 10 am it's only 51 degrees and the winds are gusting to move the tree tops.  Raptors will have to use a little more wing power today to move through, but maybe the movement will make them easier to see.  Bill is usually at church this morning, but it won't be a bad thing to not endure the morning cold with all this wind.
 
Since Vultures love the wind, might they find it inviting?  We'll see. Bill says he'd rather see his numbers in Red-tails, Sharp-shinned  and Red-shouldered Hawks.  Time for the latter season movers to get underway!!
 
Gotta
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
 
Cynthia and Jimmy Wilkerson
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