Saturday 28th February - All 25 seen

At 09:25 this morning, thirteen members of the Caesar’s original herd were grazing on the slope near ///timer.memo.plug, northeast of the covered reservoir. They were very friendly, wandering over to say hello and enjoy strokes and rubs. Although damp from earlier rain, they quickly dried in the breeze. After our greetings, several drifted back to grazing, gradually making their way towards the reservoir while nibbling the surrounding pasture. The others chose to rest and chew their cud on the hillside, occasionally returning for more scratches. All thirteen were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

At 10:20, steers 21, 33, 35, 222, and 230 were grazing southwest of the Lookout, near ///quantity.laces.fade. Youngster 222 enjoyed extended neck and back scratches, while the other four moved east to browse gorse. After a good while, and plenty of gentle head rubs, he rejoined his herd mates. As I walked around to check them, the others emerged from the gorse to greet me. All five were content and in good condition. By 11:00, the sun had made a welcome appearance, and youngster 230 stood happily for a long back rub while chewing his cud, shifting backwards and forwards to ensure every itchy spot was reached. By 11:20, youngster 222 had joined him, and the pair stood peacefully in the sunshine chewing their cud, while the others continued grazing nearby.

By 11:40, Sussex steers 1626 and 1640, along with cows 211 and 1396, were resting on the hillside near ///snowy.chuck.object, southwest of the covered reservoir. While giving cow 211 a neck rub, I noticed the other three about 65 metres further northwest near the fence line. They were all relaxed, friendly, and looking great in the warm sunshine.

There was a burnt-out van on the Gelvert side of the fence, close to the Caesar’s/Gelvert dividing gate at the water treatment compound. I mentioned it to a member of the Landmarc team, who stopped for a chat while I was with the cows; he said it had been there for at least a week.

As I was leaving at 12:45, yearling 271 was lying on the hillside northeast of the reservoir, near ///edgy.bloom.mile. Most of the others were lying in the valley further north, with cow 214 and steer 219 still grazing on heather. After a few final strokes, I said my goodbyes at 13:10.

The cows were all good today.

Delayed Staff Update

 Apologies for the delay in posting this, but judt to say Dave has closed the gates into Gelvert, so all the cattle are on Caesars main and easier to find. It will likely remain like this until we have time to go back to change the batteries on the Sussexes collars

Friday 27th February - 19 seen

 Between 08:30 - 10:45

19 seen in two groups.

First group were at ///chop.friend.edges just east of the horse pond, all were busy eating gorse and all looked in good shape.

Second group were at  ///fragment.relieves.hairspray on the path adjacent to Sandy hill Road towards the pillbox. Again most were eating the gorse with a couple grazing on the wet grass. All looked good and quite content with life.

I then looked for the remaining 6 Sussex’s between the shell petrol station and the gelvert entrance on beacon hill road. Unfortunately I couldn’t find them, asked a few dog walkers if they had seen them but no luck I’m afraid.

Thursday 26th February - 21 seen 4 SUS in tall gorse couldn’t see them

 13:35 just came down from the path by the pillbox on Sandy hill estate and found Brie she’s looking busy grazing the verge I can see the big group all here grazing they are on nofence 9 SH and 9 BW . BW making their way to horse pond all moving and grazing along the way 

14:09 nofence showing a cow 238728 nearby the heathland ///dwelled.unfilled.tidy I haven’t been able to find it 

14:41 gate onto gelvert closed tied shut

Nofence showing a cow over by beacon hill Road entrance, moved away from beacon hill Road back towards gelvert 

14:59 ///abandons.twisting.coping found 107073 SUS moving through tall gorse can’t get near them just yet see 3 so far . I can’t manage to see them in the tall gorse they duck and hide when they see me Sorry couldn’t get near them to check their ears 😔

15:33 nofence stopped showing cow 238728 ///dwelled.unfilled.tidy, going back that way to see if it’s there or not. Searched no cow or collar that I can see. Checked id its with the main group now showing as 17 in group. I counted 18 earlier 

Wednesday 25th February - All 25 seen

At 15:00 this afternoon, the eighteen members of the Caesar’s original herd, along with Sussex steer 1626, were spread out browsing gorse in the rows of bushes south of James Bond Pond. It was a warm, sunny afternoon, and the cattle emerged from the thicket one by one to greet me and enjoy head and neck scratches. Youngsters 222 and 228 were especially friendly, offering gentle head rubs in return. All nineteen were happy, relaxed, and looking well. At 16:30, five of the remaining Sussex cattle were near ///kilt.towns.trousers, southwest of the main entrance to Gelvert, while cow 1396 was grazing on gorse on the opposite side of the path. They were all very friendly, coming over to say hello and accept strokes. Cow 211 was particularly affectionate, leaning in for a long neck and chin scratch before offering head rubs and licks in return. It was encouraging to see that steers 210’s and 1640’s ears were looking much improved since Sunday. All six were content, relaxed, and in good condition. After leaving the Sussex cattle, I returned to the first group. By 17:05, fifteen of them were grazing among the heather in the pasture northeast of James Bond Pond. Once again, they took turns coming over for a few more strokes, looking wonderful in the setting sun. Shortly afterwards, the remaining five joined them, having finished browsing gorse south of the pond. The herd gradually moved further north before following the path into the pastures to the east, continuing to graze as they headed in the direction of the Lookout. Several returned for more attention before I said my goodbyes at 18:00. The cows were all good today.

Tuesday 24th - Cattle Spray All 25 Seen

Hi All, 

I came todsy in this good weather window to hopefully find and spray all 2 cows with Fly spray allowing it time to soak in before the rains come again.

I found a group of 19 up at the lookout. 

 

I then found 7 sussex all together not far off. Making a total of 25. 

Thanks so much for keeping an eye on them, this fly spray also covers ticks and lice so it should help with the sussex loosing patches of fur.

I checked around the sussex's ears after the picture from sunday of the ear. I can see no open wound, everything seems to have sealed over and healed nicely.

Grazing Team

Monday 23rd February - 23 seen

 Between 07:30 - 10:00

23 have been seen this morning in 3 groups. 16 of the original herd plus Sussex 1626 were spread between ///supply.export.likes and ///flops.robots.bikes. This is north of the horse pond towards the main path and up the hill heading towards the lookout. All looked good eating gorse and heather while enjoying a little early morning sunshine. Despite a good search I could not find 021 and 219. I suspect they were deep into the gorse. 

Whilst looking for 021 and 219 I found the 6 Sussex’s at ///nimbly.inherits.assemble which is at the lookout. I could not see any signs of fresh bleeding on either of the 4 mentioned by Gordon so presume that is a good sign.