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

Monday, April 6, 2020

Lots to See On the Watch!

Migrating Osprey glides in close over the pole.  Bill Haley



















This is adding up to a wonderful Spring Count:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Monday, April 6, 2020

Hrs. of Observation: 1000-1300 = 3 hrs.
Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1000 wind NE 2-4, clouds 15%, temp. 67F, visib. 40K. 1100 wind NE 5-8, clouds 10%, temp. 72F. 1200 wind SW 2-8, clouds 45% (large puffy cumulus coming from NW, going towards SE. What we call perfect "hawk clouds". Trouble was, I wasn't seeing any hawks!). Wind was extremely variable, switching from NE to SW, and then back 5 minutes later.

Hawks by hour;
1000-1100: OS 1, BW 11
1100-1200: OS 1, BE (imm.) I
1200-1300: BW 1

Total hawks: OS 2, BE 1, BW 12 = 15 total

First BW's seem today were small kettles of 4 and 3. Both seen to the north of the lookout.

Other observations:
- Chimney Swift, first of year
- Double-crested Cormorant 15
- Monarch, female, looking for milkweed to lay eggs. 2nd I've seen on lookout so far this spring.

Addendum to 4-5-20: Yesterday I heard several Prairie Warblers. First of year. Forgot to mention on my write-up.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

On the watch, you can listen for the Warbler calls while you 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
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