Tuesday 10th March - All 25 seen

At 13:35 this afternoon, youngsters 220 and 230 were resting and chewing their cud in the shade near ///blindfold.pulp.ogre, west of James Bond Pond. Both appeared happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

To the northwest, at 13:50, a mixed group of eighteen cattle were spread out and resting among the heather near ///beads.frock.birds. Most were relaxing and chewing their cud, while a few dozed in the sunshine. Not long after my arrival, I was greeted with gentle cuddles from youngster 222, who wandered over for neck and back scratches. After a while, I made my way around the others, who were all friendly and happy to accept a few strokes, with some standing up to enjoy back rubs. Older steer 30 was grazing among the gorse bushes on the far side of the path to the southwest. All were happy, healthy, and comfortable.

At 14:20, the final four steers were resting and chewing their cud north of James Bond Pond, near ///pokes.bidder.oiled. Older steers 33 and 35, along with yearling 270, were resting, while yearling 271 had just stood up to graze as I first approached. After checking on the first three, I went over to spend some quiet time with him. He was very friendly and enjoyed a long neck and back scratch on the bank near the main path. All four were happy, content, and looking well.

After a while, I returned to the second group, most of whom had started to get up and graze among the gorse and heather in the surrounding area. By this point, the sky had clouded over, and the earlier sunshine had disappeared.

Older steer 20 had been lying down, relaxing and chewing his cud with his herd mates in the larger second group. When the cattle began to drift off to graze, he got up and followed. He rose easily, walked without any difficulty, and began grazing contentedly. I also did not observe any issues with him during my extended visits over the weekend, with him active and grazing normally on both days.

The cows were all good today.

Monday 10th - Staff Check, 25 found

 The first group of 9 were found by James Bond Pond, all lying down chewing the cud. I came out as 20 had a Low Activity notification from his collar. He looked ok, alert and calm, but his activity looked consistently lower so may be worth keeping an eye on him.

Found the other 16 (including all the Sussexes!) east along the track from the water tower. They too were all lying down and looking very relaxed, some were even sleeping. I then took out a lick, at which point they all immediately jumped up and galloped over. 

The lick is at ///refer.movies.sulky so they may be here for the next day or so.

Monday 10th March - 19 seen

 Between 08:00 - 10:30

Found 19 this morning in 4 areas to the north and west of the Shell station.

///increment.daydreams.dressings. 020 271 270

///twice.traded.working. 033 035 230 and 220

///riddle.uproot.giraffes. 021 030

///makeup.laugh.create. 228 222 227 217 1640 234 219 214 072 and 940

With the exception of 1640, despite a good search of that part of Caesar’s I could not find the other 6 Sussex’s.

All the cattle were good this morning with 222 even more friendly than normal.

Sunday 8th March - All 25 seen

At 09:45 this morning, steers 35, 217, and 227 were grazing west of James Bond Pond, near ///grades.weary.shins. It was another foggy start to the day, with the fog especially thick around the pond. Youngster 227 was particularly friendly, enjoying a long neck and back rub while resting and chewing his cud. Youngster 230 was deep in the gorse to the southeast, but he soon wandered into a clearing to say hello and enjoy plenty of neck scratches. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

By 10:45, cows 214 and 234, along with steer 270, were grazing in the thicket near ///huddle.jots.crib, northwest of the water tower. They all wandered over to greet me. After a short while, a moo from the main path caught my attention, and Sussex steer 210 soon appeared. After greeting me, he set off west, mooing frequently as he tried to locate his herd mates. I followed, with the other three trailing behind, and we reached the path by Odiham Road a short time later. I could hear other cattle in the bushes nearby, so I led the group back the way we had come and onto a track heading northwest. This eventually brought us to the other six Sussex cattle grazing deep in the gorse near ///fails.regal.single.

At 11:15, steers 20 and 30, along with cow 72, were resting further north near ///trifling.purple.ethic. Steers 21, 33, 219, and 220 were grazing contentedly to the northeast. All seven were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

By 11:30, the final four cattle were resting and chewing their cud further east near ///float.mailing.stub. Cow 940 and steers 222, 228, and 271 were especially friendly, each taking turns to enjoy long neck and back rubs. Whenever youngster 222 felt I had spent too long with one of his herd mates, he would step forward and give me a gentle head rub to reclaim my attention. All four were happy, healthy, and a pleasure to spend some quiet time with.

By 12:10, many of the cattle from the different groups had begun to gather to rest near ///sonic.kicks.skunks, while a few continued grazing nearby. Youngster 219 and most of the Sussex cattle had begun to lie down among the heather further west near ///herring.stall.stance. The final two, steer 197 and cow 211, joined them about ten minutes later.

After giving cow 72 an extra-long back rub, I said my goodbyes shortly before 13:00. As I was walking east, I met cow 940 wandering down to the path to join the main group. The boys were still browsing gorse close to where I had found them earlier.

As I was leaving, steer 230 was lying beside the path near ///clef.period.commented, with steer 227 resting nearby. Steers 35 and 217 were grazing in the pasture to the west.

The cows were all good today.