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 11, 2019

The Official Last Day of 2019

Bill called it with his Sunday Post.  My Computer once again is the culprit for a late report.  But it's a joy to be looking across at the snow on my neighbor's roof, and know Bill pulled every last day he could out of the season.  Congratulations on a great year!

(Thursday's report sort of got buried in the last post, so I am placing it again here above the new and final report for Saturday.)

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk reports
Last two days if fall 2019 season
Thurs., Dec. 5, 2019
 
Time on lookout: 1215-1415 = 2.0 hrs.
Counter: Bill Haley
Weather: 1215: Clouds 10%, wind ENE 1-3, visib. 65K, temp. 55F. 1300: Clouds 2%, temp. 58F. 1400: Clear.
 
Raptors by hour:
1215-1300: RT 1
1300-1400: CH 1, RT 1
1400-1415: 0
 
Total: CH 1, RT 2 = 3 total raptors
 
I took some time off work, figuring it might be the last sunny day I could get up there this fall.
 
Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley
Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
........................................................................................
 
Sat , Dec. 7, 2019. Last day for fall 2019
 
Time on lookout: 1130-1400 = 2.5 hrs. 
Counter: Bill Haley
 
Weather: 1130: Clear, wind NE 2-5, visib. 45K, temp. 57F. 1200: Wind NE 5-10, temp. 58F. 1300: Wind NE 2-5, visib. 50K, temp. 60F.
 
Raptors by hour:
1130-1200: TV 6
1200-1300: TV 4
1300-1400: 0
 
Total: TV 10 
 
Other sightings: Sandhill Crane 29.
Aside from local Red-tails, no hawks flying today. Turkey Vultures counted didn't fly back and forth over north ridge as locals often do, but continued in a straight line to the south.
I'm officially calling it a season. This is my last day on the lookout in 2019. Completing the move to the new place now takes precedence.
 
See you in the lookout in 2020.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"
 
Everyone have a Merry Christmas!!! I'll do a final at the year's end, to close the Blog. and include our last thoughts about this year.  Watch for the closing page.
 
Until then....
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!
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