Small  group (3) lying in hollow just below Horse Pond an hour ago.

I note that the notice warning about nesting birds at access opposite Shell filling station is not visible because the top fastening has torn away.  I also do not see the logic of posting one such notice when neither of the gates I have been through this morning, Cranmore Lane and The Crescent, do not have them.

Wednesday Morning

I found 24 individuals today though one does not seem to match with the numbers on the blog.  One ended in 51.  I did not find both Blacks from the GCA so suspect one is back in here.  The cows were in one tight small group of 7 near Beacon Hill and another loose group spread out from Sandy Hill track down to long bottom many in amongst the gorse.  They were not very interested in coming to my calls and I suspect I missed the other two here.  They would be 100105 and 30072.

Wednesday am

No cattle sightings, but we saw our first adder of the year. It was in the undergrowth, on the bank, at the side of the track, around J27.

Another small group of which I saw 4 about 200 yards north of Water Tower about 1 hour ago.

Small group on Bricksbury Hill

91 57 87 at licks on Bricksbury Hill 9:50am on 18 Apr. No sign of others.

Easter Monday 17 April 9:30am

92, 63, 57, 104, 95, 107, 93, 112, 111, 82 & 87

Spread out grazing and on the licks at Bricksbury Hill. All healthy and content.

4 missing for full count

I found the 15 up at sandy hill and 6 over by Beacon Hill the same as Thomas did but I could not manage the others so well done Thomas.

I fed the 6 at Beacon Hill some Hay and gate the Sandy Hill ones a couple of feed blocks to keep them occupied.

I also systematically went round the entire perimeter checking all of the gates and fixing the repairs which had been reported as needing attention.  I made sure all signs warning people that livestock were present were still there and tightened the wire in many many places.

All in all it was quite nice to give the fence a good once over.

Elliott