Thursday 29th January - 22 seen

 12:55 Brie and 2 SH and 3 BW sitting on bank near Longbottom ///estuaries.rainbow.fairway look peaceful and sleepy only 2 collars showing 205518 205297

13:07 SH steer on opposite bank on his own deep in shrub can’t get near he’s grazing ///achieving.humble.mural no tracker showing for him

13:31 end of sandy hill to the west2 BW and 2 SH includes Buzz grazing only 3 trackers showing 

Heading over to JB pond 1 tracker showing there

13:45 JB Pond 3 SUS grazing not on trackers. 1 SH and a BW , the SH must be itchy he’s rubbing his butt on a tree 

1 SUS sitting nearby chewing his cud his tracker is not showing 

1 SUS walking along grazing ///obvious.topping.celebrate by the path near James Bond Pond

1 SUS sitting deep in undergrowth no tracker o  him

Conservation work nearby cows would be nonchalantly curious 14:20 the 5 SUS are now coming to have a look at the bonfire and mooing pretending to graze heather. I take it cows like looking at fire. They’ve left the fire alone and now trying to copy humans a climb the bank where they are clearing its very steep and they are determined some slipped a little and then powered up. They are now joined by BW and the other SUS from JB Pond 

High tide at James Bind Pond no beach today 🤣

15:24 I’m looking out over horse pond, I see Bries in a group  8 climbing up towards the lookout joined by a BW

Tuesday 27th January - 14 seen

At 14:35 this afternoon, steers 217, 220, 228, 230, 270, and 271, along with cow 234, were foraging for acorns near ///truck.blogs.blanks, southeast of the Bourley Road car park and close to the fenced-off area. They were all very friendly, coming over to say hello and enjoy strokes and rubs.

Older steers 20 and 30, together with cow 72, were browsing gorse in the bushes behind. Cow 72 made her way through the gorse to greet me and enjoyed a long neck and back rub.

Youngster 227 was grazing among the gorse around 100 metres to the northwest near ///snares.respond.belief, closer to Bourley Road. Between the two groups, cows 214 and 940 and youngster 222 were grazing. All three paused to come over and say hello, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs.

Despite an extensive search of the site, I was unable to locate the remaining ten cattle today. Unfortunately, none of them have working trackers. I suspect they were at the Shell garage end of the site, but I neither saw nor heard them during my walk. Given the frequent showers, they were likely sheltering deep within the gorse.

As I was leaving shortly before 17:00, I encountered the group of fourteen again near ///crumb.thighs.squirts, southwest of where I had seen them earlier. They were all still happy, relaxed, and looking well.

The fourteen cows that were found were all good today.

Monday 26th January - Only 17 found this morning

 Between 08:00 - 11:00

Due to me having to be elsewhere today I could only stay looking until 11:00. Hence I have only managed to find 17.

The first 3, 220,214 and 217 were at ///beans.soap.plant they were making their way through the woods and eventually joined the path leading from the James Bond pond towards the lookout.

The second group of 14 were just north of JB pond at ///saving.consoled.ending. They were all eating the gorse and heather. All looked much happier now they were dry after constant rain of the last few days. 222 was his normal friendly self as was Sarah.

Despite a lengthy search the seven that I haven’t managed to find were the 6 Sussex’s and 219. I may have time to go out again this afternoon to have another look but without the trackers working it is a pot luck if I come across them.

Sunday 25th January - All 24 seen

The cattle were largely in the same two groups as yesterday, although each group was missing a few individuals. At 09:00, steers 20, 30, 217, 228, 270, and 271, along with cows 214, 234, and 940, were spread out grazing in the thicket near ///down.ramp.green, south of the Sandy Bowl. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Although still wet from earlier rain, they were drying out quickly. The group gradually drifted east as they grazed. All nine were happy, relaxed, and looking well. By 10:00, the six Sussex cattle, together with steers 33, 219, 222, and 230, were foraging for acorns among the fallen leaves on the slopes near ///excuse.decks.spoil. They paused their hunting to greet me and enjoy some strokes. Youngster 222 came bounding over enthusiastically when he heard my voice, keen for his usual long neck and back rubs. His coat was quite matted, but gentle rubs helped to loosen and smooth it, and he returned the affection with head rubs and licks. By 11:00, the two groups had begun to come together on the hillside near ///sing.leader.tubes. After giving a few extra back scratches, I said my goodbyes and left them resting. At 11:10, steers 21 and 220 emerged from the woodland near ///wiring.flops.sizes. They stopped by the main path to say hello before walking with me to rejoin the main group, now resting in the pasture near ///skin.leap.winner. Steer 33 appeared briefly unhappy to see his old friend steer 21, and the two clashed heads momentarily before sensibly moving apart. They quickly settled, helped by a heavy shower that passed through and cooled things down. A short time later, I set off again to look for the remaining three cattle. By 11:45, steers 35 and 227 were found grazing among the gorse in the pasture opposite their favourite Sandy Hill corner, with cow 72 deeper in the bushes behind them. She quickly made her way through the thicket when she spotted me and seemed pleased to have the rain and loose gorse brushed from her back. All three were happy, relaxed, and looking well. I left them grazing contentedly at 12:15. As I was leaving at 12:25, I checked on the combined group again, expecting to find them resting on the hillside. Instead, they had moved downhill and crossed the path to undertake a mass acorn hunt near ///stress.care.frosted. Shortly after I arrived, the rain returned, but it didn’t deter them. After giving youngsters 222 and 228, along with yearling 271, some extra rubs, I said my final goodbyes shortly after 12:45, leaving everyone calm and relaxed. The cows were all good today.

Saturday 24th January — All 24 seen - Several had heavy tick loads around the dewlap and under‑leg areas, and a number had bald patches suggesting mites.

At 08:30 this morning, a group of eleven cattle were spread out and grazing contentedly in the thicket west of the Bourley Road car park. Cow 234 and yearling 271 were enjoying plenty of grass around the large pools of standing water left by recent rain near ///skewing.frames.slept. The cattle were all very friendly, coming over to greet me and enjoy some strokes. Youngster 228 was especially affectionate, thoroughly enjoying a long neck and back scratch before thanking me with gentle head rubs. The group was slowly making its way west, following the road. All eleven were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 09:45, the six Sussex cattle, along with youngsters 222 and 230, were grazing near their favourite corner of Sandy Hill. Most were browsing in the gorse bushes, but quickly emerged to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs.

By 10:30, cow 72 and steers 219 and 227 wandered in from the west to join the group, with older steer 33 arriving shortly afterwards. They were all friendly, coming straight over to greet me and enjoy some attention.

By 11:10, most of the cattle had moved east towards the end of Sandy Hill, where they settled to rest and chew their cud. A couple moved through the gorse to stand in the area recently cleared by the contractor. While chatting with one of the gents from Landmarc who spotted me during his site checks, we heard mooing from the bottom of the hill and saw older steer 35 walking along the path towards Horse Pond. After calling to him, he paused and looked up before moving into the pasture at the foot of the hill. I later went down to check on him and found him settled and well. He sensibly remained at the bottom of the hill, anticipating that the others would soon make their way down, enjoying the heather along the way.

I said my goodbyes at 12:10, leaving nine of the cattle grazing contentedly on the hillside, while Sussex cows 211 and 1396, along with steers 197 and 210, browsed gorse at the top of the hill.

I noted that several cattle had large numbers of ticks around their dewlaps and in their under‑leg areas, and that a number also had bald patches on their hindquarters, sides, and necks, suggesting mites. The recent wet and mild weather is likely contributing to this.

I also noted that steers 33 and 227 have slipped their collars.

The cows were all good today.