Thursday 26th March - off sick

Sorry, wasn’t feeling well for a couple of days, hoping to get out but the lurgy isn’t finished with me yet.

Wednesday 25th March - All 25 seen

At 11:30 this morning, a group of ten cattle were found near ///hunter.dorms.shuts, close to Bourley Road. Cows 214 and 234, along with steer 220, were initially resting on the hillside on the opposite side of the path but soon wandered over to join the main group. Steer 21 had been grazing in the woodland to the northeast and also came over, settling on the hillside with cows 72 and 940 and steers 219, 222, 228, and 271. Despite a gusty wind, they were all enjoying the sunshine, either relaxing and chewing their cud or dozing. The cattle were very friendly, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs as I spent some time with each of them. It was lovely to spend some quiet, relaxing time with them. I said my goodbyes at 13:00, leaving them resting peacefully.

At 13:10, steers 20, 30, 35, 217, 230, and 270 were resting near ///rubble.when.usual, close to the grassy area east of the Sandy Bowl. Youngster 230 was especially friendly, happily accepting endless strokes while relaxing and chewing his cud. At 13:30, the weather turned, with dark skies, strong winds, and a wintry shower of hail. All but steer 35 quickly moved to shelter under the surrounding trees, and the boys were happy for me to join them. It almost seemed as though wise old steer 35 had anticipated the change, positioning himself under cover so he didn’t need to move. After about ten minutes, the shower passed and the boys returned to the open to dry off in the sunshine. All six were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 14:05, the seven Sussex cattle, along with steers 33 and 227, were grazing in the waterlogged area near ///puff.zips.late, eating the plants growing on the surface. Thankfully, they came over to the water’s edge, sparing me from having to cross the worst of the ground, to say hello and enjoy some strokes. Cow 211 enjoyed a long neck and shoulder scratch, returning the affection with plenty of licks, while cow 212 was content to stand and enjoy an extended back scratch. All nine were happy and healthy.

By 15:00, the group began moving northeast, gradually crossing the Sandy Bowl, with six of the Sussex cattle leading the way. They headed to the grassy area to the east and began grazing on the fresh grass. Steers 33 and 227 briefly went over to greet the six steers from the second group, who were still resting, before continuing up Sunny Hill Road to the thicket near ///adopt.debit.dices, where they began to graze. Steer 1626 arrived shortly afterwards, greeting the boys before joining the Sussex group. After a few minutes, the resting steers got up and followed, and the larger group then moved into the woodland to the south.

As I was leaving at 15:30, the cattle from the first group were grazing in the woodland near the Bourley Road car park.

The cows were all good today.

Tuesday 24th March - All 25 seen

At 11:05 this morning, older steers 20, 21, 30, and 35 were grazing in the thicket at the Royal Pavilion end of the site near ///actual.dull.swing. They were eating a mix of leaves and fresh grass growing around the bushes. All four paused to greet me before returning to graze. They were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 11:40, a group of thirteen cattle were grazing among the gorse and heather on the hillside near ///rate.truck.timed, north of Horse Pond. Youngster 228 spotted me approaching and came over to greet me, enjoying the first of many neck and back scratches. The others also took turns coming over to say hello, with most enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs. Afterwards, they began to lie down to rest and chew their cud. Youngsters 219 and 222 both returned for extra-long shoulder and back scratches, relaxing completely and offering gentle head rubs in return. I said my goodbyes at 12:50, leaving all but steer 33 lying down and resting, while he continued browsing gorse to the east. All thirteen were happy and healthy.

By 13:00, the seven Sussex cattle and youngster 227 were resting in the heather south of James Bond Pond, near ///joints.hurry.silently. Youngster 227 enjoyed having the sides of his neck stroked while chewing his cud, but soon stood up for a long back scratch, shifting around to make sure I reached all his itchy spots. After about twenty minutes, several of the Sussex cattle got up to stretch. They were all happy to be checked and enjoyed a few strokes before wandering off to the southwest to graze on heather and gorse. Youngster 227 soon returned for more attention, content to just stand and be fussed over. I said my goodbyes shortly before 14:00, leaving them all grazing peacefully.

As I was leaving, I passed the main group again, who were still resting, although they had shifted position slightly. I was pleased to see that the four older steers from the first group had joined them and were also lying down, chewing their cud. After giving several of the cattle some final strokes, I said my goodbyes just after 14:30, leaving them all calm and content.

The cows were all good today.

Monday 23rd March - All 25 seen

At 13:55 this afternoon, a mixed group of thirteen cattle, including the seven Sussex cattle, were found in the pasture near ///design.smile.amaze, west of James Bond Pond. Most were lying down in the heather, relaxing and chewing their cud in the sunshine. A few were still grazing but soon settled down to rest. Sussex steer 197 remained grazing on the bank to the north of the main group. Youngster 222 got up shortly after I arrived, keen to say hello and be fussed over, thoroughly enjoying a long neck and back rub. The others were happy to receive strokes as I made my way around checking on them. All thirteen were happy, relaxed, and looking well. While moving around the group, I noticed youngster 227 browsing gorse in the distance at the southwest corner of the pond, near ///doubts.glows.nearly. I walked over to check on him; he appeared fine and seemed to be enjoying some time alone. He still stopped for a long neck scratch before returning to the gorse. On my way back, youngster 219 and yearling 270 were grazing along the sides of the main path to the north of the pond. At 14:40, steer 21 was resting in the pasture to the north of the main group, near ///laces.badge.back. Cow 940 was grazing nearby and came straight over to greet me. After enjoying a back scratch, she lay down at my feet. Steer 30 was browsing gorse further north, but soon wandered back to rejoin his herd mates. Steer 20 was also resting nearby, surrounded by gorse bushes. All four were happy and healthy. At 15:05, cow 72 and yearling 271 were grazing contentedly near ///bead.yard.hooked, southeast of the cattle grid into the Gelvert reserve. Both stopped to say hello and enjoy plenty of scratches. Steer 33 was lying down resting, while youngster 228 was browsing gorse behind him and soon came out to greet me, enjoying a good neck rub. Cow 214 was lying in the bracken a little further south, looking very comfortable. All five were happy, relaxed, and in good condition. By 15:45, I returned to the group of four to find steers 219 and 270 had joined them. Youngster 222 had also joined this group too. Yearling 270 was peacefully chewing his cud, while youngster 219 was more interested in neck and back scratches. Both appeared well. As I was leaving the site at 16:45, the seven Sussex cattle were happily grazing on grass and gorse near the pillbox on Sandy Hill, having drifted away from the group they were with earlier. The cattle were all good today.