Sunday 29th March - All 25 seen

At 09:25 this morning, a mixed group of twenty-two cattle were spread out grazing south of James Bond Pond. Several were browsing gorse and heather in the pasture near ///clicker.cared.crop, while the others were dispersed among the bushes lining the two paths to the north. The cattle were very friendly, with nearly all coming over to greet me and enjoy plenty of scratches. After saying hello, they would return to grazing. They were all happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At around 10:25, ten cattle gathered at the southwest corner of the pond to rest, either drinking from the large puddle on the path near ///loaf.dollar.shred or going into the muddy area to the north for water. By 10:45, they started to drift off again to graze or return to the pasture to lie down and chew their cud.

It was great to see that steer 210 had found the other Sussex cattle and was much happier than yesterday, although he was still fairly vocal at times. I suspect this was simply to ensure the others were still nearby.

I said my goodbyes shortly before noon, leaving a group of fifteen lying in the pasture and the others still grazing among the gorse bushes.

At 12:05, cows 72 and 940, along with steer 219, were resting in the bracken on the hillside to the west of Horse Pond, near ///highly.invent.staked. They were all looking very comfortable, relaxing and chewing their cud. They were all happy to be approached and enjoyed plenty of strokes and rubs. Youngster 219 especially loved the attention, and after an extended neck rub, stretched out fully on his side for belly scratches. All three were content, relaxed, and in good condition. I said my goodbyes at 13:00, leaving them all peacefully resting.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday 28th March - All 25 seen - Sussex steer 210 was on Gelvert - now back on Caesar's

At 09:15 this morning, steers 217, 220, 222, 228, 230, and 271, along with cow 214, were resting and chewing their cud on a grassy patch at the Royal Pavilion end of the site, near ///dollar.lost.river. Steers 30 and 227, together with cow 234, were grazing in the bramble to the southeast. Youngster 222 had a small scratch on his front right ankle, likely caused while grazing in the thicket, but it wasn’t causing him any issues. They were all very friendly and enjoyed plenty of strokes and rubs as I made my way around checking on them. At 10:55, steers 20 and 35, along with Sussex cows 211 and 212, were grazing in the swampy area to the southeast of the covered reservoir. Cow 212 soon wandered over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs in the sunshine. At 11:30, a group of ten cattle, including four of the Sussexes, were resting in the heather and bracken near ///repeats.attic.save, northeast of James Bond Pond. They were positioned within an area that the army had cordoned off for cadet training. They were all happy, relaxed, and looking well. Despite a thorough search, including returning to all three groups to double-check I hadn’t missed him, I was unable to find Sussex steer 210. Determined to locate him, I crossed over to Gelvert, where I eventually found him grazing on lush green grass beside the larger fishing lake at 13:50. He was reluctant to leave the fresh grass, but he did follow me back to Caesar’s through the gate at the water treatment plant at 14:10, which had been left open after the makeshift string lock had been cut. Having found some thin rope near the fishing lake, I used it to secure the gate. It took some time to guide him back to other cattle, but by 15:00 he had been reunited with steers 20 and 35 near ///beats.golf.stowing, close to the main entrance to Gelvert. He didn’t seem particularly content, and I suspect he was hoping to rejoin the other Sussexes, although cows 211 and 212 were likely nearby, as they had been with the boys earlier. He had been very vocal along the way, frequently calling out as he tried to locate other cattle, but none were close by. Hopefully, he will settle, and the group will move off together to find the others. The cows were all good today.

Friday 27th March - All 25 seen

At 11:20 this morning, steers 30, 220, 222, 227, 230, and 271, along with cow 234, were resting and chewing their cud on the slope of Sandy Hill, near ///stun.speaker.downs. They were content and unbothered by the steady drizzle. After about ten minutes, a Landmarc truck approached from the west, and I walked down to the path to have a chat with the driver. Soon after, the cattle wandered down to join us, forming a loose circle around me. Youngster 222 soon approached for scratches but seemed unimpressed at not having my full attention, so he began nudging me gently with his head to regain it.

After saying goodbye and once the truck had pulled away, the cattle drifted off in different directions to rest or graze. Steers 30, 227, and 230 took shelter under trees just off the main path, resting and chewing their cud. Steers 220 and 271 went to lie down close to where they had first been found. Youngster 222 joined them after another long neck and back scratch, while cow 234 wandered north to browse on gorse before emerging to relax and chew her cud among the heather. All were content, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 12:30, the remaining eighteen cattle were spread out in the pasture near ///cards.evaded.tabs, northwest of James Bond Pond. Cows 72, 940, and 1396, along with steers 20, 217, and 270, were all lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud. The rest were scattered to the northeast, grazing on gorse and heather. They were all friendly and enjoyed plenty of strokes and rubs as I checked on them. By 13:05, steers 33, 35, 210, 219, and 228 had crossed into the pasture to the east to continue grazing. Youngster 219 soon took a break and thoroughly enjoyed a long neck and back rub.

When I returned to the main group, steers 210, 219, and 228 followed me back, with youngster 228 soon approaching for some attention. He completely relaxed while having the sides of his neck stroked. By 13:50, many of the cattle were lying down again, including five of the Sussexes, having finished grazing on gorse and heather. The others continued browsing gorse from the surrounding bushes. The cattle had moved further northwest, near the Gelvert fence line at ///clearing.seat.jolt. After about five minutes, older steers 33 and 35 returned; 33 lay down with the main group, while 35 sheltered from the drizzle under the trees along the fence line.

I said my goodbyes at 14:30, leaving half the herd resting and the other half grazing. Several had moved out to browse gorse along the path near ///tour.grips.instructs. 

I did notice that the majority of the cattle had many ticks on their necks, armpits, and undersides.

The cows were all good today.