Wednesday 20th May - All 25 seen

At 16:45 this afternoon, steers 35 and 222 were peacefully resting on the hillside north of Horse Pond, near ///scribbled.bluffs.chilled, while steer 217 grazed among the bushes beside the path to the south. Youngster 222 thoroughly enjoyed a long neck scratch while resting before eventually standing up for a long back rub. He returned the affection with plenty of gentle head rubs while relaxing and chewing his cud. The boys were all happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 17:10, youngsters 227 and 228 were grazing near the southwest corner of James Bond Pond, close to ///witty.doll.safely, while older steer 30 browsed among the gorse bushes to the west. The youngsters took turns wandering over to say hello before enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs. After a while, older steer 30 emerged from the bushes and wandered over to greet me before stopping for a long drink from a nearby puddle. Afterwards, he happily returned to grazing among the gorse. All three were happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

By 17:35, cows 72, 214, 234, and 940, along with steers 20, 21, 33, 220, 230, 270, and 271, were resting on the grassy islands northeast of the water tower, near ///shark.atlas.tones. They were all happy to be approached as I made my way around checking on them, with most enjoying strokes and rubs while resting and chewing their cud. Cows 72 and 940 both stood up to enjoy long back scratches, shifting from side to side to make sure I reached all their itchy spots. I was especially pleased to see that youngster 230’s eye appeared completely fine today. He was resting with it fully open, there were no tears, and while leaning in for a long neck scratch he happily allowed me to give it a closer check. There was no sign of any injury or irritation. By 18:15, the cattle had gradually started to get up and wander north to graze among the long grass and bushes, although youngster 230 preferred to stay behind for a little extra attention before eventually following the others. All eleven were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

Finally, at 18:40, the seven Sussex cattle, along with youngster 219, were grazing on the hillside below the Lookout, near ///losing.humans.roof. Earlier, after leaving the first group of three steers, I noticed they had passed through the wall of gorse to graze in the swampy area southeast of the Lookout. They had spent the later part of the afternoon slowly grazing in an anticlockwise arc around the hillside. Several of the group were grazing in the wetter, swampy ground, but soon wandered over to greet me with very muddy legs and splashes of mud across their undersides. They were all very friendly, pausing their grazing to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes as I checked on them. Over time, the group gradually drifted southwest, crossing the hillside path near ///pits.brotherly.quite before descending into the pasture to the west to continue grazing. I said my goodbyes shortly after 19:10, leaving them peacefully grazing in the late evening sunshine. All eight were happy, relaxed, and healthy.

The cows were all good today.

Tuesday 19th May - All 25 seen - Steer 230 has a teary right eye

At 16:55 this afternoon, eleven members of the Caesar’s original herd were spread out grazing to the north and east of the covered reservoir. They were all enjoying plenty of fresh grass, with older steer 35 having wandered into the bushes by the path to browse on gorse. Cows 234 and 940, along with steers 20, 30, 33, 35, 217, 220, 222, 270, and 271, were all very friendly as I made my way around checking on them, with most enjoying some strokes. Youngster 222 was especially affectionate, wandering over to say hello as soon as he spotted me and greeting me with gentle head rubs. He soon leaned in for an extra-long neck and back scratch. As I was saying my goodbyes, the cattle began gathering on the grassy slope near ///contour.drill.salary. All eleven were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 17:45, five of the Sussex cattle, along with youngster 219, were grazing in the pasture north of the James Bond Pond near ///reverted.lump.active. Cow 1396 was lying down to the southwest, resting and chewing her cud in a brief spell of sunshine. Youngster 219 soon wandered across a boggy patch to say hello and enjoy plenty of scratches. As I was leaving, cow 211 went and lay down beside cow 1396, but not before coming over for a neck rub and offering plenty of licks in return. Steer 210 had wandered off by himself and was grazing on the hillside in the pasture to the north near ///bolts.cello.safe. All eight were content, relaxed, and in good condition.

The final five cattle had been moving down towards the eastern end of the site, but after leaving the Sussex cattle at 18:25, I noticed they had turned around and were now grazing on the hillside under the Lookout, near the fenced-off area. I returned to where I'd seen the first group, only to find them further east near ///nurture.twit.listed. Most were relaxing in the sunshine and chewing their cud, while a few continued to graze.

At 18:40, cows 72 and 214, along with steers 21, 227, and 230, were grazing on the hillside near ///curly.drawn.awoken. Youngster 228 wandered down the path to say hello and enjoy some strokes before carrying on to meet up with his herd mates. The others continued to graze on the hillside, gradually moving west. By 19:05, youngster 230 had made it to ///booth.broth.throw. He was very friendly, stopping his grazing to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. I noticed he had a teary right eye, which he preferred to keep closed while he stood being fussed over. He allowed me to check it, and there were no obvious signs of injury or cloudiness. After spending a good while with him, the other cattle had spread out to the east and north of the covered reservoir again. I said my goodbyes at 19:40, leaving them all peacefully grazing.

The cows were all good today, but we should definitely monitor youngster 230's right eye.

Sunday 17th May - All 25 seen

At 09:20 this morning, seventeen members of the Caesar’s original herd were spread out around the Royal Pavilion end of the site. Steers 20, 30, 35, and 217 were grazing among the woodland northeast of their favourite resting spot near ///lived.hint.motel, pausing to say hello and be checked as I approached. Cow 234, along with steers 222, 228, 230, 270, and 271, were grazing on the island just off Sunny Hill Road, near ///melt.rich.safety, enjoying the fresh grass and browsing on leaves from the surrounding bushes. They were all very friendly, taking turns to wander over for strokes and rubs before returning to graze nearby. Steers 21, 33, 220, and 227 were spread out among the bramble on the far side of the path, happily browsing while keeping a close eye on the rest of the herd.

Meanwhile, cows 72, 214, and 940 had already made their way down to the grassy area east of the Sandy Bowl, where they were resting peacefully in the sunshine and chewing their cud. The girls looked content and were happy to receive some gentle strokes as I checked on them. Over time, the rest of the herd gradually drifted down to join them, stopping along the way to graze and browse among the bushes. Most spent a while standing and chewing their cud before eventually settling down to rest. Youngster 227 was the last to arrive, finally wandering down to join the others at 10:45. After youngster 222 insisted on one final long back rub, I said my goodbyes at 11:00, leaving the herd peacefully resting in the sunshine. All seventeen were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 11:10, the seven Sussex cattle, along with youngster 219, were grazing in the pasture near ///being.salmon.pickles. After a while, they gradually drifted southeast and moved into the larger pasture near ///curries.stuck.summit, where they continued grazing on the long grass and browsing among the bushes. They were all very friendly, regularly pausing their grazing to wander over and say hello, while enjoying plenty of scratches as I made my way around checking on them. Youngster 219 was especially affectionate, lingering for extra attention before rejoining the others. The group were all happy, relaxed, and looking well.

The cows were all good today.