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

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

The Day Before Halloween, The GRAY GHOST Arrives

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals,
Tues., Oct. 30, 2018
Coverage, (all times EST): 
1030-1230 = 2.0 hrs.
Counter: Bill Haley
Weather: Clouds 50%-60%. Wind ENE 1-4. Temperature 50 - 56 F. Barometric pressure 30.25, decreasing to 30.22. Humidity 83%-49%. Visibility 65 K.
Raptors by hour:
1000: NH 1, SS 2
1100: SS 1, CH 1
1200: NH 2
Hawk totals:
10/30/18 
Northern Harrier 3 (1 male, "gray ghost"!)
Sharp-shinned 3
Cooper's 1
___________
Raptor Total  = 7 

     A sky that looked good for hawks inspired me to take a little time off from work and head up to the lookout for a couple of hours. Not a huge flight day, but the three Northern Harriers was a nice surprise. The last one was a beautiful male "gray ghost", the only one I've seen this fall.  
     The Cooper's Hawk flew fairly low directly over the lookout, giving me a really good look.

Monarch 1

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."
 
3 Harriers, one a fabulous Gray is worth a couple hours birding!
Thank you, Bill.
 
Glad to hear of your Halloween surprise. :)
And we know you will, certainly -
 
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson
 
 
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