Thursday 29th February - 15 seen

Steers 20, 30, 217 and 228 plus cows 72 and 940 were all grazing in the rain in the area around ///bikes.episodes.uncle at 16:35 this afternoon.  They were all rather wet, but were all looking well.

Youngster 217 was standing under the trees around ///distract.consults.bolt at 17:00.  He was relaxing and chewing his cud while sheltering from the rain.  Steers 222 and 230 were grazing under the trees close by.  Steers 21, 33, 35, 220 and 271 were munching on gorse in the bushes to the south.  After about ten minutes, yearling 270 came wandering into the area from the trees to the north, mooing as he arrived.  He stood under the trees for a short while before starting to graze with the boys.

I was later in getting out today, so didn't get a chance to search the entire site for the Susses cattle.  However, they weren't in any of the places I checked before it got dark.

The fifteen original Caesar's cows were all good today.

Tuesday 27th February - 15 seen

The fifteen original Caesar's cows were all back together, but sadly the Sussex cows were no longer with them.

Thirteen cows were lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud in the recently cleared area around ///dive.rice.door at 14:10 this afternoon. Most had made beds out of bracken and were looking very comfortable. Youngster 217 had been lying down, but got up and scratched his head and neck against a small tree. When he was happy, he lay back down. Youngster 228 was the only other one up and about, and was grazing in the gorse bushes to the north-west. He was venturing close to the wooded area which the army had cordoned off for training purposes. 

Despite a good search, I wasn't able to find the seven Sussex cows today. 

The cows that were found were all good.

Sunday 25th February - All 22 seen

Steers 20, 33, 219, 220, 222, 228 and 271 plus cows 72 and 940 were found grazing in the area around ///reservoir.gift.guitars at 09:15 this morning.  They were all happy and relaxed and enjoying the early morning sunshine.  They were eating lots of gorse and heather.

While I was walking over to find the others, a thick fog descended on Caesar's at about 09:45.  Steers 35, 217 and 230 were found munching on grass and gorse in the area around ///cunning.ally.afraid on Sandy Hill twenty minutes later.  They were all looking well.  Older steer 30 was buried deep in the gorse bushes to the east.  If he hadn't broken a branch, I would have walked right past him.

I continued walking east, and I was delighted to find yearling 271 grazing with Sussex steers 197 and 210 plus cows 211, 212 and 1396 in the pasture opposite their favourite Sandy Hill corner at 10:20.  They were all happily eating lots of grass.  Older steer 21 and Sussex steers 1626 and 1640 were munching on gorse in the bushes behind them.

Just before 11:00, the group of six started wandering west along Sandy Hill.  When they reached the pill box, steer 210 used it to have a good scratch 😄.  Soon after, they continued to wander west, with yearling 270 leading the way.  The other three steers were being left behind, still eating gorse in the bushes.

The cows were all good today.

Saturday 24th February - All 22 seen

Steers 20, 33, 219 and 222 plus cows 72 and 940 were all grazing in the area around ///scam.goad.switch at the Royal Pavilion end of the site at 09:45 this morning.  Youngsters 220 and 228 plus yearling 271 were found grazing in the thicket to the south.  All nine cows were happy and relaxed and looking well.

Youngster 217 was found munching on gorse around ///shop.belief.dignitary near James Bond pond at 10:30.  Older steer 30 was deep in the bushes beside him.  Youngster 230 and yearling 270 were grazing in the gorse bushes on the ridge above.  Not long after, I heard some mooing in the distance and went to investigate.  Older steer 35 came wandering along the side of the path to the south-west, with Sussex steers 210 and 197 following.  They stopped just before the ridge, with youngster 217 coming over to check out the newbies.  

All four steers soon climbed up the hill onto the ridge, where they were met by older steer 21 and the other five Sussexes.  I'm not sure where they had come from.  All thirteen cows then proceeded to get to know each other, with lots of sniffing and rubbing of heads going on.  Cow 211 quickly went off to eat some heather.  Yearling 270 was the most curious and was not shy about approaching and then rubbing heads with the much larger Sussex steers 1626 and 1640.  It was amusing to see him holding his own against them.

Not long after, they all started to relax and chew their cud together in a large huddle.  After about ten minutes, they started to wander off in ones and twos to graze in the pasture, with lots of heather being eaten.  They ended up being fairly widely spread out, but the Sussex cows were happily grazing amongst the Caesar's originals.  I watched them until about 11:45, and they were all absolutely fine.  I wonder if they are going to stay together now or separate again?

The cows were all good today.

Wednesday 21st February - All 22 seen

The seven Sussex cattle and older steer 21 were grazing on Hungry Hill in the area around ///highs.slopes.woof at 14:00. Older cows 72 and 940 were grazing nearby. They were all eating lots of gorse. Older steer 21 kept on wandering up to the Sussex cows and sniffing them, causing them to walk away from him. It was all friendly, though. The cows were all wet.

The other twelve steers were all found in the area around ///richer.skewing.food at 14:40. Steers 30, 33, 35, 219, 222, 230, 270 and 271 were all lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud under the trees. Most had made beds out of bracken, with the two yearlings finding a really nice spot to lie and rest together. Steers 217 and 228 were standing chewing their cud. Steers 20 and 220 were eating gorse close by. Despite being really wet, they all seemed happy enough. I noticed that older steer 33 had some bald patches on his back, and youngster 217 had a bald patch on his right-hand side. I've shared some photos with the Grazing team. The cows were all good today.