Thursday 3rd October - 24 seen

Youngster 227 was grazing near ///swan.cook.lists at 16:45 this afternoon. He soon took a break, came over to say hello, and enjoyed a back rub. Nearby, steers 20, 30, 33, 35, 228, and 230, along with cow 214, were spread out grazing in the thicket to the southeast. Steer 227 joined them shortly after. All the cattle were happy, relaxed and looking well.

At 17:40, steers 210 and 1640, along with cow 211, were grazing along the sides of the path near ///altitude.give.ratty. They were all friendly. Steer 197 was eating in the gorse bushes but poked his head out when he heard my voice. Cow 211, who clearly had been in the gorse bushes, was happy while I brushed the gorse off her back. She was her usual affectionate self, giving me head rubs and licks. Ten minutes later, steer 1626 appeared from the south and rested by the path, chewing his cud. The other two, cows 212 and 1396, were grazing near ///only.tint.cities at 17:55. All the Sussex cattle were doing well.

Cows 72, 234 and 940, along with steers 217, 219, 220, 222, 270 and 271, were grazing near ///nicer.gift.recent, to the east of James Bond Pond at 18:10. They all appeared happy and relaxed. They wandered toward the main path, pausing for a drink from the puddles, and began grazing in the heather. After a short time, they headed off in the direction of the Lookout. Despite a thorough search, there was no sign of steer 21.

At 18:40, I noticed the first group of cows had reached the covered reservoir. Thinking I might have missed steer 21 earlier, I walked down to check on them again. By the time I arrived, they had moved round to the water treatment compound and into the pasture near ///streamers.flop.piano. Steer 21 was still not with them.

Despite searching until 19:20, when it was completely dark, I couldn’t find steer 21. I have no idea where he might have been hiding.

All the cows I did find were good today.