Sunday 1st February - 17 seen

At 08:30 this morning, seventeen members of the Caesar's original herd were spread out foraging for acorns in the area surrounding the cow shed. They were all soaking wet, but the trees offered some shelter from the rain. Despite this, they were all very friendly, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs. 

I stayed with them until after 10:00, by which time the TALMAG motorcycle trial was well underway. You could hear the motorbikes in the distance but the cattle didn't appear to be bothered.

After saying my goodbyes, I embarked on a long search across the length and breadth of the site trying to find youngster 219 and the six Sussex cattle. I started by ensuring they were not in any of the areas that the event planned on using, before drifting further afield.  Despite searching until after 13:15, I could not find them anywhere — I'd love to know where they were!

I returned to the main group at noon, who were now either standing on the grassy area at the Royal Pavilion end of the site, drying out while relaxing and chewing their cud, or standing in the surrounding woodland.

The cows that were found were all good today.

Saturday 31st January - All 24 seen

At 09:15 this morning, steer 21 and cow 214 were foraging for acorns among the fallen leaves near ///crate.deaf.moral, close to Crown Dairy Nursery. Steer 220 and cow 234 were grazing in the gorse at the top of the hill nearby. Although they were wet from earlier rain, all four appeared happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

In the pasture to the northwest near ///towers.drape.pigs, cows 72 and 940, along with steers 30, 217, 222, 227, 228, 270, and 271, were either resting or browsing gorse. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over to greet me and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs.

Just after 10:20, I returned to where I'd found the first four and met youngster 230 walking down the path from the east. He stopped to say hello and enjoyed a long back scratch. After about ten minutes, as I was preparing to set off and continue my search, he encouraged me to follow him further east with gentle head rubs and a few moos. Fortunately, he led me straight to the rest of the herd.

At around 10:35, four of the Sussex cattle, along with steers 20 and 219, were foraging for acorns in the woodland near ///cases.pumps.homes, close to Farnborough Road. Older steers 33 and 35 were browsing gorse nearby. Sussex cows 211 and 212 were further northwest near the Sandy Bowl and were especially affectionate, enjoying long neck and back rubs and offering head rubs and licks in return. Both eventually lay down at my feet to rest and chew their cud. The original group of four was grazing in the woodland east of the Sandy Bowl.

By 11:30, the rain had returned, but it didn’t deter the cattle from continuing their acorn foraging. Youngster 219 took a break to come over for some attention. I said my goodbyes at noon, leaving them calm and content.

Before leaving the site, I returned to the group in the pasture, where most were lying down in the bracken, soaking wet but contentedly chewing their cud. Steers 30, 217, and 270 had sensibly taken shelter in the gorse bushes. Yearling 271 appreciated having the rain brushed from his back and sides before rolling over and stretching out for a belly rub. Several others enjoyed more strokes and rubs before I said my final goodbyes at 13:05.

Unfortunately, the cattle were spread throughout the area where the TALMAG motorcycle club was setting up for their event tomorrow. Activities were taking place across sections of woodland south of the Sandy Bowl and along towards Hungry Hill. Hopefully, the cattle will move away from the area before the morning.

The cows were all good today.

 

Friday 30th January - All 24 seen

 Between 08:30 - 11:30

All have been seen in 3 groups this morning, the first group were at ///dampen.equivocal.fruitcake which is north east of the horse pond. This included Brie and Sarah as well as 234,030,217,227,214,228 and 222. All were eating the heather. Brie and 222 were very friendly enjoying long back rubs. 

The second group found were at ///lectured.spill.formal which is opposite the Shell station. In this group were the 6 Sussex’s and 033,035,220 and 219. The Sussex’s were showing quite a few patches with no fur particularly 212. They seemed happy eating the gorse. 211 was more than happy with a back rub.

The third group of 5 were at ///deliver.round.alienated this included 270,271,230,020 and 021. 020 and 021 were having a lay down enjoying the sunshine.

All the cattle were good today apart from the patches of no fur on the Sussex’s.

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.