Saturday 3rd January - All 25 seen

Happy New Year!  All the best for 2026.

Shortly before midday, a mixed group of eight cattle were in the lower pasture west of James Bond Pond, near ///backdrop.roses.rivals. Sussex cows 211, 212, and 1396, along with British White cow 234 and youngster 222, were resting in the sunshine and chewing their cud. They were all friendly and happy to be approached for checks and plenty of strokes. Youngster 222 was especially pleased to see me, coming over for a long neck and shoulder scratch and responding with gentle head rubs. Sussex steers 210 and 1640, along with youngster 219, were grazing in the gorse further west but soon came over to say hello. Shortly before I left, the first five moved up to higher ground to browse the gorse. All eight were relaxed, content, and looking well.

By 12:40, sixteen cattle were gathered in the pasture south of James Bond Pond near ///cabin.onto.outs. Most were lying in the heather, relaxing and chewing their cud or dozing in the sunshine. Cow 214 and steer 217 appeared to have only just stood up and were peacefully chewing their cud. As I made my way around checking them, several got up to enjoy long back scratches. By 13:25, most of the group had risen and were either grazing in the heather to the west or browsing the dense gorse to the south. Only steers 21, 30, 197, 227, and 1626 remained resting.

I then headed back to the first area to look for the missing older steer, 33. I found him lying with youngster 219 in a gap between two thick gorse banks near ///garlic.rise.rescuer. He looked well and settled, happily chewing his cud in the sunshine. I’m not sure where he'd wandered off to earlier, as I'd already searched the pasture, but it was a relief to find him. I said my goodbyes at 13:50, leaving the boys resting and the others browsing gorse nearby.

The cows were all good today.