Wednesday 4th March - All 25 seen

At 15:30 this afternoon, nine members of the Caesar’s original herd, along with Sussex cow 211, were resting in the sunshine or browsing on gorse just west of the main entrance to the Gelvert Reserve. The ever-friendly youngster 222 spotted me approaching and wandered over to meet me, keen for neck and back scratches. The others were equally friendly and happy to be approached for checks, with most enjoying strokes and rubs. After a while, the cattle began moving west along the path, grazing on grass and gorse as they went. Older steer 33 and cow 211 soon headed off ahead, while the others followed at a more leisurely pace. All ten were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Deep in the bushes off the path to the south, steers 21, 217, and 227, along with cow 234, were contentedly browsing on gorse. Further south, near ///spill.poem.slung, steers 20, 220, and 228, along with cow 214, were also nibbling on gorse. All four emerged from the bushes to say hello, with cow 214 and youngster 228 happy to stand in the sunshine while I brushed the loose gorse from their backs. Youngster 228 also enjoyed a long neck rub, responding with gentle head rubs. All eight were happy and healthy.

At 16:20, I came across steer 33 and cow 211 again, now with Sussex steers 210, 1626, and 1640, along with cows 212 and 1396. They were happily grazing near ///primed.fluid.towel, close to Odiham Road. All seven were friendly, stopping to say hello and enjoy a few strokes.

By 16:45, all sixteen cattle from the earlier groups had come together and were spread out grazing in the pasture near ///widely.mile.skip. Several wandered over for more back rubs while they grazed.

When I returned to the Sussex group at 17:05, steers 197 and 219 had come out of hiding and were now grazing with the others. Youngster 219 was especially friendly and enjoyed an extended neck and back rub. His injuries continue to heal nicely; however, I noted that he had dislodged some of the scab on his right ear. I said my goodbyes just after 17:35, leaving them all peacefully grazing.

The cows were all good today.

Tuesday 3rd March - All 25 seen

At 15:30 this afternoon, Sussex steers 197 and 210, along with cows 211 and 212, were grazing on the lush grass near the cattle grid at Beacon Hill Road. Each paused to greet me and enjoy a few strokes before returning to grazing. Youngster 219, who had been grazing nearby, wandered over for a long, relaxing neck and back scratch while chewing his cud. All five were happy, content, and looking well.

At 15:50, Sussex steer 1640 was resting near ///mugs.daredevil.sticks, about 250 metres further southeast. Cow 1396 and steer 1626 were grazing in the gorse behind him. All three appeared happy and in good condition.

A short while later, youngster 222 came up the path from the east to greet me and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. He was especially affectionate, offering gentle head rubs while having his neck scratched. Before long, youngster 228 joined us and was just as friendly. Eleven other members of Caesar’s original herd were spread out nearby, grazing on gorse, heather, and plenty of grass. Youngster 230 was resting and chewing his cud a little further south near ///officer.loom.project, still within sight of the others.

By 16:30, yearlings 270 and 271 were grazing in the setting sun north of the water tower, near ///lanes.upwardly.apes. Yearling 271 was, as usual, particularly friendly. Youngster 227 was resting under the trees on the opposite side of the path, while older steer 35 was grazing further west. It was noticeable that some of the cattle had begun lightly shedding their winter coats, particularly youngster 227, whose white hair was clearly visible on my black fleece after a back scratch.

I returned to the second group at 17:05 to find that the Sussex cattle and youngster 219 had joined them. The herd remained spread out and grazing, with several moving into the area near ///dolphins.outs.licks to browse heather. Some also stopped to drink from the large pool of water to the north. I said my goodbyes shortly before 17:30, leaving them peacefully grazing or resting.

The cows were all good today.

Monday 2nd March - Apologies but I am unable to see the cattle today - will be back Friday

Sunday 1st March - All 25 seen

At 09:00 this morning, Sussex steers 197, 210, and 1640, along with cows 211 and 212, were grazing contentedly on the grass on Sandy Hill, near ///walls.pats.causes. They were all very friendly, coming over to greet me and enjoy some strokes. They were damp from the drizzle but were happy, relaxed, and looking well. In the distance to the east, I could see another group of cattle grazing further along Sandy Hill.

Around ten minutes later, cow 940 came up the nearby hill from Longbottom. She wandered over to say hello before setting off east along the hill to join the others. Older steers 21, 33, and 35 soon followed. They, too, greeted me before starting to browse the gorse. I then returned to spend more time with Sussex steer 197, who was a little further west, and spotted older steer 20 coming down the hill from James Bond Pond. A few minutes later, he also came up the hill, paused for a rest, and then set off eastwards. The group of five Sussex cattle followed shortly afterwards.

By 09:30, cows 214 and 234, along with steers 217, 219, 220, 228, 270, and 271, were grazing near the pillbox, mainly munching on grass and gorse. They were soon joined by several of the cattle who had wandered along the hill. The others preferred to graze near ///revisits.study.fizzle, enjoying grass and bramble on one side of the path and gorse on the other.

By 10:00, the remaining seven cattle, including the final two Sussex cattle, came wandering along in ones and twos from the west to join the group. Youngster 222 came straight over to say hello and enjoyed a long neck and back scratch, with youngsters 227 and 230 waiting patiently for their turns. They were all happy and in good condition.

Despite the almost constant drizzle, the cattle continued to graze or rest and chew their cud on both sides of the central gorse bushes. It was great to see the whole herd back together again.

By 11:15, around half the herd had passed through the gorse bushes at the edge of Sandy Hill and started to graze among the heather on the slope near ///easels.rips.dignify. Several wandered over for more back scratches before I said my goodbyes at 11:30. As I climbed back up the hill, steer 197 and cow 1396 were waiting for me, both happy to receive some final strokes.

The cows were all good today.