Staff Check - Wednesday 18th

 Belated post for a staff check yesterday. 16 cows and 2 water buffalo were found cooling off by Horse Pond, and the remaining 7 were a little way down the track, chewing the cud and looking well

Wednesday 19th August - All 25 seen

At 16:45 this afternoon, cow 940, along with steers 21, 35, 222, and 228, were gathered at their favourite Sandy Hill corner. They were all relaxing and chewing their cud in the sunshine, with older steer 35 preferring the shade of the apple tree. Cow 940 was the first to come over to say hello, standing beside me for a long neck scratch. Youngster 222 was patiently waiting his turn and, as soon as I was free, came straight over to greet me with gentle head rubs before settling in for a long neck and back rub. Over the next short while, steers 20, 220, 270, and 271, along with cows 72 and 234, came wandering along from the east to join the group. They were all very friendly and happy to be approached for their checks, with most happy to receive plenty of strokes and rubs. Gradually, most of the group wandered off to graze in the shade of the gorse bushes to the north, leaving cows 72 and 940, along with steers 20, 35, 222, and 271, on the corner. All eleven were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 17:20, steers 30 and 217 were grazing contentedly in the thicket near the top of Sandy Hill, further east from the first group near ///obey.jammy.retailing. At the bottom of the hill, steers 33, 227, 230, and 1626, along with cow 214, were resting in the bracken beneath a tree near ///tint.footsteps.churn. They were all being bothered by quite a few flies, but the bracken was helping to keep the worst of them at bay. They were happy to receive plenty of strokes as I spent some time with each of them, with youngster 230 especially appreciating a long neck and shoulder scratch. By 17:45, steers 30 and 217 appeared on the hillside to the southeast and wandered through the heather to join the others. All seven were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

At 18:00, Sussex cow 212 was grazing in the bracken just off the main path near ///guards.span.yard, around 330 metres northeast of Horse Pond. She spotted me approaching and came over to say hello, happy to receive plenty of fuss. The remaining five Sussex cattle and youngster 219 were grazing among the grass and heather in the pasture on the opposite side of the path. I spent a good while with each of them, with cow 211 being especially affectionate and offering plenty of licks after her neck and back scratches. Steer 1640's wound looked much better today and continues to heal nicely. By the time I said my goodbyes at 18:55, all but steers 197 and 219 were lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud. The two boys continued grazing in the sunshine. All seven were content, relaxed, and looking well.

The cattle were all good today.

Tuesday 18th August - All 25 seen

At 17:00 this afternoon, a group of seventeen cattle, comprising sixteen members of the original herd along with Sussex steer 1626, were spread out in smaller groups, grazing around the covered reservoir. It was wonderful to see them all looking far more comfortable in the cooler conditions. The hillside just to the northeast of the reservoir was favoured by the five older steers, youngster 217, and cow 214, who were thoroughly enjoying the grass growing around the dense bracken. Cows 72 and 234, along with steers 222, 227, 270, and 1626, favoured the slope to the northwest of the reservoir, where they were happily grazing in the swampy areas close to the Gelvert fence line, with mud reaching all the way up their legs. Youngster 222 was eager to come and say hello, but there was a large, deep swampy area between us. We ended up in a little stand-off, looking at each other for a while as we wondered who was going to brave the mud, but in the end, neither of us did.

The cattle were all very friendly as I made my way around checking on them, happily accepting plenty of strokes and rubs, with back scratches while grazing proving especially popular. All seventeen were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 17:55, Sussex cows 211, 212, and 1396 were resting in the bracken on the higher ground to the south of the covered reservoir, near ///candles.stub.freedom. All three were being bothered by large numbers of flies, so were happy for me to sit down beside them and help keep the flies at bay while they relaxed and chewed their cud. Cow 211 was her usual affectionate self, thanking me for a long neck and shoulder rub with gentle head rubs and plenty of licks.

Sussex steers 197, 210, and 1640, along with youngsters 219 and 230, were grazing contentedly further east. They all stopped to say hello and enjoyed plenty of strokes and rubs. Youngster 219 briefly came over to say hello, but it was clear he had more important things on his mind, quickly positioning himself for an extended back scratch, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Steer 1640's wound was looking better today, and it wasn't attracting as many flies. He was keeping it fairly well shielded while grazing in the bracken, which made it difficult to get a close-up photo. The boys were all happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

By 18:50, the majority of the first group had moved further northeast into the pasture near ///printout.snap.duet, where they continued to graze, browsing on leaves from the trees and bushes as well as enjoying plenty of heather. Youngster 222 spotted me approaching and came straight over to greet me with head rubs before enjoying a long neck and back scratch. I said my goodbyes at 19:15, by which time the final members of the group had joined them, leaving the whole group peacefully grazing together.

The cattle were all good today.

Monday 17th August - All 25 seen

 Between 06:45 - 09:15

All seen in three locations this morning 

///incoming.chum.recent (slope leading down to Gelvert fence)  the Sussex’s 219 and 035 they were gradually making their way up the slope towards James Bond pond. 211 and 219 were very friendly this morning enjoying long back rubs and covering my arm in cow dribble!

///driving.etchings.cattle (north west of horse pond) 940,033,021,020 and 072 they were all grazing on what they could find, mainly heather.

///grin.weeks.state (near main path north of horse pond) 214,217,234,228,222,271,230,270,030,220 and 227. This group were more scattered but not far from the main path spread over about 100 metres. 

All the cattle were good this morning.

Sunday 16th August - All 25 seen

At 09:30 this morning, steers 35 and 222 were grazing along the side of the path on Sandy Hill, near ///chats.hunk.degree, while steer 30 and cow 72 were grazing among the bushes behind them. Youngster 222 was especially friendly, enjoying a relaxing neck and shoulder rub before inching forward for a long back scratch. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:05, a little further west along the hill near ///electric.lilac.hosts, cows 214 and 940, along with steers 220, 228, 230, and 271, were resting and chewing their cud beside the path. The initial group of four followed me as I wandered off to meet them. As I made my way along, youngster 227 also emerged from the thicket on the slope and joined us. The group were all very friendly, taking turns to step forward to say hello and enjoy plenty of fuss. By 10:35, youngster 270 had also emerged from the thicket and joined the group. Cow 72 and steer 271 then drifted off to enjoy the brambles growing along the fence line, while the others were happy to relax and chew their cud. All eight were content, relaxed, and in good condition.

As I made my way towards the western end of Sandy Hill, I spotted steer 21 deep in the thicket to the north near ///slowly.uses.liquid. He was enjoying plenty of leaves, so I left him in peace to graze. At 10:40, cow 234, along with steers 197, 219, and 1626, were lying down and chewing their cud on the patch of grass near ///grins.printer.apron, southwest of James Bond Pond. Steers 217 and 1640, along with cow 1396, were resting under the shade of the trees on the opposite side of the path. They were all friendly as I made my way around checking on them. Steer 1640 was wisely resting with his wound covered, so there was no opportunity to check it at that point.

Finally, at 11:00, steers 20 and 33 were grazing on the lower ground north of the main path, near ///snores.joins.crows, in an area that is normally full of water but was completely dry today. Sussex steer 210, along with cows 211 and 212, were grazing deep in the thicket to the northwest, but cow 211 spotted me with the boys and soon wandered over to say hello, enjoying a long neck and back scratch. All five were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

By 11:30, I headed back towards the group on Sandy Hill, stopping to spend some time with steer 21, who was now in a more accessible position. While I was standing with him, the group wandered past and continued on to the sandy area at the southwest corner of James Bond Pond. Steer 21 came along with me as I followed them. They gradually made their way into the water for a refreshing drink. Before long, sixteen members of the original herd, along with Sussex steer 210, had all gathered for drinks, with the remaining Sussex cattle gradually arriving in ones and twos, along with youngster 219. Afterwards, the cattle either remained in the water or made their way back onto the sand to rest and chew their cud. Several wandered over for more neck and back scratches while relaxing, including steer 1640, whose wound was attracting many flies again today. He allowed me to check it; it continues to heal, although it was looking a little redder today.

By 12:40, around half the group had drifted west of the pond to graze, particularly enjoying leaves from the surrounding trees and bushes, while the others remained resting, with several taking the opportunity to lie down. I said my goodbyes shortly after, and as I passed the grassy area where the group of four had been lying earlier, steer 35 came wandering out of the thicket. He paused before mooing, presumably looking for the others, so I walked him around to James Bond Pond before saying my final goodbyes.

The cattle were all good today.