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Sutton Park

I spotted this bird in the park last week. I've posted a couple of views in case someone can tell me what it is. We've had one or two thoughts and suggestions so far. I've tried to put them right but they keep turning back - sorry.
 

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I spotted this bird in the park last week. I've posted a couple of views in case someone can tell me what it is. We've had one or two thoughts and suggestions so far. I've tried to put them right but they keep turning back - sorry.

My guess is that it is a young buzzard that has not reached its adult plumage. In the book it says they have one brood, of three or four, between March and May.

A few years ago, in the nearby wood, we had 3 young buzzards. It was amazing to watch the youngsters waiting, on different trees, for the adults to appear. You could tell when they were about to arrive as they exchanged calls. The youngsters would take off just before the adult arrived and the adult would drop whatever it had brought from perhaps 50 feet and one of the youngsters would catch the meal sometimes maybe only about 12 feet below.

The young Buzzards were continually pestered by the magpie gang!
 
The main entrance in 1927. Looks like there were special arrangements for cyclists to the left. Viv.

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Viv, another view of the same gate just a little further back. I can't decide what the large building is on the left hand side at the back. It must be a house I think.
I'm pretty sure that was a shed on the left for storing cycles at 2d, perhaps you weren't allowed to ride your bike in the park then. I think the next line is motor cycles but not sure about the 4d.
Most people are quite considerate but some cyclists go too fast.
 

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Maybe the large house was a park house Lady P? I don't really remember this gate, only the entrance off Ryland Road where my nan lived. That entrance was nothing like this, just a passageway I think from memory. There was also a pond nearby, always looked dark and threatening with loads of duckweed across the surface in places. Viv.
 
I think the partly hidden sign said "All vehicles this way" or something like it. The smaller one says "Cycles Stored 2d, Motorcycles 3d, Small Cars 4d."
 
the tea rooms you see in vivs photo has been the asian grill restaurant from at least 1973 to my knowledge and still going strong

lyn
 
A map of the Park in 1887 and some images of areas marked on the map: Nuthurst, Holly Knoll(1907) and Gum Slade. The last image with the carriage (1910) shows ‘Crystal Palace’ in the distance. Viv.

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Maybe the large house was a park house Lady P? I don't really remember this gate, only the entrance off Ryland Road where my nan lived. That entrance was nothing like this, just a passageway I think from memory. There was also a pond nearby, always looked dark and threatening with loads of duckweed across the surface in places. Viv.

Viv, I've been puzzling about Ryland Road and Sutton Park. Wasn't it by Rectory Park? Is there another one? I know the park is still there but I'm not sure about the pond and the duckweed.
 
I’ve just had a look on Streetview Lady P and it doesn’t look anything like how I remember it. I’m wondering if it was another address, they did move about a bit. But I know it was definitely Sutton Park and the pond was near an entrance - not a gated entrance, but down an alleyway. And it was a matter of minutes to walk to. Shall have to have a closer look on Streetview. Viv.
 
Viv, we went to Witton Lakes last month and I hardly recognised it. The trees had grown up so much but it is over 50 years since I went last. I think Sutton Park has changed a lot too, even since I've been going. Streetview never looks the same as I remember and I expect that's the trees as we;;. I've been trying to think of an alleyway but can't. I'm sure somebody will though.
 
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