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, December 4, 2019

Nearing the Last Post of 2019

Bill admits that its about the end of fall hawk watch season 2019.  This may be one of our last posts before the closing updates and comparisons.  Bill's email:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Sun., Dec. 1, 2019

Time on lookout: 1215-1415. = 2.0 hrs.
Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1215: Clear, wind SW 10-20, with some stronger gusts, visib. 70K, temp. 59F. 1300: Clouds 2%, temp. 60F. 1400: Clouds 10%, wind W 15-20, with occasional stronger gusts than at 1300.

Raptors by hour:
1215-1300: CH 1
1300-1400: RT 1
1400-1415: 0

Total: CH 1, RT 1 = 2 total raptors

The season has now stretched from the blazing hot, sweaty, solid blue sky days of September to fierce gusts and wind chills of early December. Will there be more days on the lookout this fall? Time is running out, and it all depends on the weather this coming weekend. Christmas Counts start Dec. 14.

It has been one of the most challenging seasons in my 27 years on Soddy Mountain, and a historic low hawk count. However, there were still some highlights that I'll fondly remember. Although much of my watching was solitary, I'd like to thank all who visited and helped watch. I made some good new friends and had the chance to visit with several old ones as well.

The strongest winds of the season, and from absolutely the worst direction for a good hawk flight, made me thankful to document two migrant hawks. Today reminded me of similar wind gusts in a past season that blew an aluminum lawn chair right over the nearby bluff. (I still miss that chair - it was a good one - and it was never recovered.)

Reporting: William G. (Bill)" 

Hope some of you can participate in Christmas counts, where of course, I will remind you not to forget to......

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!!
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