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, September 18, 2019

2 NEW FALL 2019 REPORTS

Hi to our followers!  Thanks for keeping up with us. Bill was able to steal a little time away, and watch for raptors passing by, so here are his first 2 reports:
 
Soddy Mountain Hawk Totals: 
Sat., Sept. 14, 2019    
  0 Raptors   
 
Time on lookout: 0930-1200 = 2.5 hr.
Counter: Bill Haley (my first day on the lookout for fall 2019)
 
Weather data:
0930: Wind calm, clouds 97%, visib. 15K, temp. 75 F. No barometric pressure or humidity readings – weather radio not working.
1000: Wind N 1-2, clouds 100%, visib. 30K, temp. 79 F.
11:00: Wind S 2-3, clouds 100 %, temp. 81 F.
 
Raptors by hour:
0930-1000: 0
1000-1100: 0
1100-1200: 0
 
Total raptors: 0
 
Never even saw a vulture, due to poor weather conditions. Did have time to do some weed-eating to clear path from parking area to lookout proper, a bit around lookout and a path to the “restroom” area. Quit when I ran out of gas.
 
Notable sightings:
-          Saw 14 vintage aircraft flying E-W over north ridge, some appeared to be possible WWII “warbirds”. Possibly going to an airshow?
-          At 9:48 there were 7 Eastern Bluebirds on the wires in front of me.
-          At 11:30, two male Scarlet Tanagers (fall plumage), flew into pines near the lookout.
-          One migrant Cloudless Sulphur butterfly seen.
-           
Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley
 
(/All data is data, even the zero days! WCA)
...................................................................................
 
Soddy Mountain Hawk Report
 
 Wed., Sept. 18, 2019
 
Time on Lookout: 1000-1230 = 2.5 hrs.
Counter: Bill Haley
 
Weather:
1000: Wind E 2-5 mph, clouds 2%, visib. 15K (very hazy), temp. 79 F. (No baro or humidity reading.)
11:00: Wind ESE 5-8 mph, clouds 0, temp. 82 F.
12:00: Wind S 5-12 mph, clouds 10%, temp. 84 F.
 
Raptors by hour:
10:00: BW 14 (one kettle of 11)
1100: BW 6
1200: BE (ad) 1; SS 1; BW 3
              
 BE 1
 SS  1
 BW 23
________________
 25 total raptors.    
 
Also seen:
-          2 Red-tailed Hawks, (1 imm. 1 ad.). Both local birds and not countable.
-          Monarch – 1
 
Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley
 
..........................................................................
 
Bill says he has vacation real soon. I will try to get some dates up if he knows when he can go. 
Thanks for the reports, Bill.
 
Goodnight all,
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
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