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.
"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
Saturday, September 17, 2022
It's Saturday, It's Saturday and International Hawk Migration Week!
_______________
Today, I was taking a rest after hauling and placing mulch and lookup up to see vultures. Following the Harold Birch rule, to never discount the possibility of a haek being among them, I grabbed my binoc, and was rewarded with a single followed by 8 bulleting BWs. They dropped from very blue skies from extremely high. And they never moved a wing. The road the whole way with wings tightly pulled into the bullet position. Gone in an instant, then a large bird crossed through my lens. I dropped the binocs just in time to see a BW chasing a dragon fly. I watch a bit longer as more dragonflies, monarchs and Vultures passed through. But my most beautiful sighting was the last one. A REd-tailed Hawk flying north, circled a time or two, before heading North. Thing was...he was almost totally white underneath. I saw the dark commas clearly and a very pink tail. A tiny dark feather here and there, but nothing to look remotely like a bellly band. I never saw his back, but as he passed where the sun could shine through it's wings looked almost transparent. Beautiful. But nice to have a few BWs too.
Jimmy and Tami will be on the watch tomorrow..Sunday. At least as long as Jimmy can handle it. Wish them luck.
What a great day to
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
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