Saturday 27th September - All 25 seen

At 09:45 this morning, six of the Sussex cattle, along with steers 21 and 219, were foraging for acorns near ///circles.doubts.mills, close to Bourley Road at the eastern end of the site. Cow 211 had wandered about 60 metres further northeast, outside the boundary, grazing on the far side of the stream. Steer 210 had followed, but was held back by his collar. All eight were very friendly, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs as I checked them.

By 10:35, youngsters 217, 220, 222, and 227 were grazing in the pasture southeast of the covered reservoir, under the hill, near ///powers.evenly.weary. Older steers 20 and 30 were browsing on leaves a little further south. Steer 30 was doing well today—settled in with the group, moving freely, and enjoying his leaves. Sussex steer 1626 had wandered further west, grazing alone in the thicket. The youngsters gradually made their way west along the track at the foot of the hill, browsing on leaves as they went. Steers 222 and 227 were especially friendly, both enjoying long neck and back rubs. All seven were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 11:30, I spotted cow 214 looking unsettled, moving quickly along the side of the path near ///lilac.acute.grapes, west of Horse Pond. I had heard some mooing in the distance and went to investigate. She seemed to be searching for cow 234 but paused to say hello, enjoy some strokes, and calm down. She then moved into the heather filled pasture to the west, calling out several times without reply. I persuaded her to follow me back to Horse Pond, where steers 35 and 228 were resting at the southeast corner. There we also found cow 234 foraging for acorns in the woodland across the path to the east. Once reunited, all four began grazing together in the thicket. They were all content, relaxed, and in good condition.

By 11:50, steers 33 and 230, together with cow 940, were resting near ///ounce.shell.square, while yearlings 270 and 271 grazed nearby. Yearling 271 soon came over to greet me and enjoy a long back rub. By 12:15, cow 940 had got up and started grazing to the southwest. Soon after, cows 214 and 234, together with steer 228, emerged from the thicket to the south and slowly made their way over to join the group.

Concerned that I still hadn't found cow 72, who appeared to be off on her own, I set off to search further, including some areas outside the boundary. By 12:50, I found four steers from the second group resting on higher ground in the heather near ///towel.skater.comic. Steer 30 was lying happily on the grass just across the path. When I first arrived, Sussex steer 1626 was still grazing in the pasture below, but twenty minutes later he had moved northeast to join the other Sussex cattle in the first group of eight near ///lost.flattery.task. Most of that group were resting in the bracken, while steers 197 and 219 continued grazing before settling down.

Finally, at 13:40, I returned to the last group of nine and was delighted to see cow 940 with them near ///bride.blink.gaps. She was resting and chewing her cud, but soon got up to enjoy a back scratch. I said my goodbyes just after 14:00, leaving them all resting—though as I walked away, I saw them get up and begin grazing west.

The cows were all good today.