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, November 24, 2018

283 Cedar Waxwings and a MIlipede! Slow day...

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk totals
Fri., Nov. 23, 2018
 
Coverage: 0915-1215 = 3.0 hrs. 
Counter: Bill Haley
Weather: 100% clouds (thin, sun could be seen through them. Wind SSW 2-10. Visibility 20-35k. Temperature 35-46 F. Other readings not available.
Hawks by hour:
0900: 0
1000: NH 1, CH 1
1100: RT 1
1200: 0
Totals:
11/23/18 
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's 1
Red-tailed 1
_______________ 
Total: 3
Tough day with 100% clouds. Cloud cover was thin and you could see the sun, but only strong enough to cast dim shadows. After an hour, I  despaired of seeing any hawks, so it was a treat to see a Northern Harrier clear the north ridge. It is one species that is always a possibility on a marginal, cloudy day. Later on in the hour an adult Cooper's Hawk came through, and then a Red-tail during my last hour. It was nice to get three countable hawks when I feared getting skunked!
 
Other sightings: 
Field Sparrow - partially leucistic bird with white outer tail feathers. It was right beside a normally-plumaged Field Sparrow and was seen well.
American Crow: flocks of 34 and 29. Larger numbers than I usually see. 63 total.

Sandhill Crane 4 

American Robin 160 
 
Cedar Waxwing 283 
 
Young 1" millipede, probably Narceus americanus, feeding on a ladybug I squashed yesterday. 

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."
 
Got a little hard today to
 
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

Note: Jimmy found 2 Bald Eagles that were in the dialogue that failed to make the count, so he has edited the Bald Eagle count by +2.  Making the adjustment.  He says our numbers match.
 
 

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