Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch: CLOSING DAY - NOV 30TH **** FINAL #3028 RAPTORS******

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.

Sunday, December 4, 2022

CLOSING DAY - NOV 30TH FINAL #3028 RAPTORS**

Bill has decided to call the season. And with the next week having some pretty cold temps, I don't blame him. Although, he has no fear of the cold, (I know this because we have been out all day with him on counts a couple of times when the mornings started at 18 degrees), being in it every day for several days in a row isn't wise, when you are exposed and in place with no gettting into and out of a sheltered like a car. So...all that aside- this post is of the last day he was up there. He sent a cool closing set of pictures which I will post exactly as he asked. And I wish to say that, Jimmy and I hoped to get up there far more often, and it didn't happen for us. In fact, I was never able to go up this season. So we live vicariously through Bill as you do. This was a great season, though difficult for him. We cannot say enough about the support he received from friends and fellow hawk lovers. Hope every one has a very HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!! Here's the last report of 2022: