Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

[scooper77515]

I have been skiing and boating around here since 1978, and periodically see a mating pair of bald eagles, quite rare in this corner of the world.

Moved to the west shore of Lake Houston this summer, and spending much more time on and near the water, and have seen them twice now in 2 weeks, once at skier's cove (just one soaring around) and again today at the intersection of Will Clayton and Lake Houston Pkwy (the pair).

Before this, i have seen them down at the bend in the river at Good Times Marina a few times.

Texas Game says they have been watching them for over 20 years, but have not found the nest, and think it is near Newport somewhere over in Crosby.

Anyway, just a heads up for Lake Houston boaters...they are there, just keep your eyes open and looking up!

Anyone else boating in these areas?

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

I was in the river today.. Yikes it got busy but had to try out the new boat.. We are planning a trip to the lake next weekend on Sunday when there is less people out.. Hoping to find some cool places it hang out and swim.. Haven't been on that lake ever.. We will be putting in at the park on the south end.. Be great if you could tell us about some good places to go.. Like places for fuel, food, and uncrowded hide away beaches.. My gal will freak out if we see some eagles while out.. She loves that kind of stuff.. Will keep a eye open.. We may plan a little get away vacation on the lake before season ends if I can find a cabin to rent for the weekends... No luck looking online

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

The eagles hang out on the north end of the river, near magnolia gardens, up to the beach at newport, and up to the middle of the lake. I hear they have a 10-mile or so range, and this would be just about that.

Load up at Deussen park at the south side. There is a deep area for wakeboarding just across the lake on the Newport side from the dam, to halfway to Deussen, over to that first point on the north side of that cove.

Then come around that point on the east side, past the first set of houses, and there is another deep cove called Skiers Cove. No stumps, deep, like 25 feet (the channel runs through there). Then on the north end of that cove is a "beach". Water is high after the rains so not a lot of sand, but it is shallow. You will see a couple to several boats anchored over in this area, around to the bulkheads. There aren't many other beaches.

If you need gas, go up to 1960 and on the Huffman (east) side, just on the north side of the bridge, they have beer, gas, wine, snack foods. And just south of that bridge, same side, is Cedar Landing, for dine-in or eat-on-boat home-style meals, fried seafood, etc.

I wouldnt go to much closer to Kingwood unless you follow someone. It gets really shallow over there, and I have yet to find the channel to get through. It is there, but i have never followed anyone to find it.

If you do find it, there are several night clubs and fine-dining on the water.

I have the map of the lake so if you see me flag me down and I will let you take a look at it.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

Shame you can't scan it and post it.. That would be good info marked with cool spots.. Maybe will get lucky and see ya running around on your glastron

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

Yeah, too big to scan. It was a major hassle to find, as well.

But you are welcome to take a look and get the general gist of it.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

We live near the south end of the lake, now and see a couple of juvenile bald eagle in our back yard periodically. Just now, we saw an adult, hovering way overhead, and I brought the vid cam out to shoot it but all you can see is a black dot in the camera lens. I "real life" you can easily make out the white head and white tail, but the camera just didn't catch it.

We will keep trying. And post up vids once we get them. The juveniles land in our backyard all the time. Catching them on film is a beeyotch!

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

Well, I saw an adult flying around this afternoon and took video but you cannot tell if it is an eagle or a vulture, since my digital camera/video cam does not have a zoom in video mode. I can see the white head in person, but not on the video.

But in camera mode, it DOES zoom!!!

Here is my first easily discernible pic of a true to life bald eagle from our back yard!

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

That's great!!! There are Bald Eagles and Ospreys on Lake Seminole. No clue where the Eagles nest, but the Osprey's have nests all over the lake in cypress trees and dead trunks. The nest are generally about 15' to 20' above the water. I've seen the Osprey's diving and catching fish. I've only seen the Eagles hunting/soaring. Looking forward to seeing them dive. Maybe this season...

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Anyone seen the pair of Bald Eagles around Lake Houston, upper San Jacinto River?

Found this video of when I first saw the adolescent eagles on my desktop. Posted it to youtube. Sorry for horrible video quality. My little camera doesn't do good videos, and you really cannot tell if it is a vulture, eagle, or whatever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTlwrqYSV_k