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Soddy Lake

Birding Seasons:

Spring A-

Summer B

Fall A-

Winter A+

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Site Description and Habitats

This embayment is part of Chickamauga Lake a few miles north of Chattanooga. The access at Soddy Lake provides views of open water habitats. Views of the lake can be made from the east and west side of Hwy 153.

Bird species of interest

Spring and Fall Migration: Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Green and Blue-winged Teal, and Northern Shoveler

Summer: resident breeding birds.

Winter: Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls, and waterfowl including Canada Geese, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Northern Shoveler, American Black Duck, among others.

Year-Round: Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Killdeer, Black Vulture, and Song Sparrow

Rarities Seen at this Site: Tundra Swan

Species list via eBird Hotspot Explorer

Submit your data to eBird here

Detailed directions for birding Soddy Lake
Take Highway 27 N or Highway 153 N; travel 15 miles north of 27/153 intersection to northern Hixson Pike exit, turn left. Turn right at light and lake is on the right. Pull well off the road onto shoulder before exiting car.

The main attraction here is waterbirds and maybe shorebirds is habitat is present. Visit the parking areas on either side of Hwy 29 below and a gravel access area on the north side of the lake just on the east side of Hwy 29. If the water is low, there may be shorebirds. Scan for gulls in winter as well. Watch the sky for eagles!

Lat-Long (GPS) coordinates
Gravel parking area on west side of Hwy 153: 35.285112, -85.154247
Small parking area east of Hwy 153: 35.283878, -85.152125

Fees and Hours
No fees are required to access these areas. The areas are accessible during daylight hours

Hazards
Watch for cars.

Facilities
There are no restroom facilities.

Info for other sites
Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife web site