Sunday 15th November - All 25 ssen

The cattle were all good today.

Full update to follow later.

Saturday 14h November - All 25 seen

At 09:15 this morning, a group of nineteen cattle emerged from the woodland northeast of the water tower and wandered over to greet me, near ///hips.doll.factored. They were all very friendly, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs while being checked. It was a frosty start to the morning, so I took the opportunity to break the ice on some nearby puddles. 

The cattle soon spread out to relax and chew their cud in the sunshine, but were still happy to stop for lengthy neck and back scratches. Youngster 197 was keen to show me he was now collarless and especially enjoyed a long neck rub, stretching his neck right out so I could reach under his chin. Youngster 219 was quick to approach for his usual back scratch, gently shaking his head at anyone who thought about interrupting proceedings. Youngster 228 also enjoyed having the sides of his neck and shoulders rubbed. It was lovely to spend some quiet, relaxing time with the group this morning. After saying my goodbyes at 10:45, the cattle drifted off to the west to graze.

At 10:50, steers 33 and 222 were grazing among the thickets in the woodland northeast of the water tower. They both spotted me approaching and wandered over to a clearing near ///drops.joints.keep to say hello. Youngster 222 was especially affectionate, greeting me with the sweetest head rubs before leaning in for a neck scratch. After a while, he shifted position to enjoy a lengthy back scratch, enthusiastically moving around as I reached all those particularly itchy spots. The boys were both happy, relaxed and looking well.

At 11:15, youngsters 217, 227 and 230 were resting at the side of the path near the grassy area southwest of James Bond Pond, around ///shape.observes.dusters. Youngster 222 followed me over to join the boys. All three were lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud, but were happy to accept plenty of strokes as I crouched down beside them. Youngster 230 soon got to his feet for a satisfying back scratch.

Older steer 21 had been grazing deep in the gorse bushes on the opposite side of the path, but by 11:30 he emerged and wandered over to say hello, allowing me to brush the loose gorse from his head, neck and back. He then enjoyed a long neck rub, relaxing as he chewed his cud. A short time later, steer 33 wandered around to join the others. After a brief pause, he decided it would be fun to get youngsters 217 and 227 up to their feet before taking over their resting spot. He is some boy! By noon, the cattle had drifted off to graze among the gorse and heather in the surrounding area, with a couple stopping to drink from the nearby puddles. After a final round of strokes, I said my goodbyes at 12:20, leaving steers 21, 33 and 230 standing in the sunshine near ///cyclones.snoring.sifts, while the other three continued grazing.

The cattle were all good today.

Friday 13th November - All 25 seen - can confirm Sussex197 has lost his collar

 Between 12:30 - 14:45

All seen in 3 groups this afternoon as follows

///branched.hoaxes.talkative (north west of horse pond) 5 Sussex’s, 197,211,1396,1640,212 and their best friend 219. Both the collarless Sussex’s were here. All 6 were lying in the sun when I arrived with 211 the first to get up for a back rub. The others soon got up and started to eat.

///basic.loss.ages (east of horse pond) this was a scattered eleven, 271,270,020,234,940,030,1626,214 and 072. 035 and 210 were on the main path alongside the closed off area. 072 was particularly friendly enjoying a back and neck rub along with the top of her tail. She was almost dropping off.

///advancing.green.quintet (near the lookout) 227,222,220,021,217,228,230 and 033. As expected 222 was slow in coming forward to greet me as was 228. 

I also repositioned one of gates on Sandy Hill Road as it had been left open. I suspect that by the time I got home the idiots on motorcycles have reopened it!

All the cattle were good this afternoon enjoying the sunshine while it lasts.