Friday 31 July 2027. (08.30 - 08.45) All Four Boys Seen. All OK

 For the firse time in what seems like ages, I found them in the open in E7/F7.  They were grazing on the surprisingly green and lush looking new grass growing in/under the bracken to the west of the N-S grassy track.  All four were happy for strokes & scratches while they continued to munch.

    

Apologies. It was only later that I realised that I had not checked upon the trough.  If it's any assistance.... I can see that all four have been at the trough for at least the last 35 minutes, (11.00 - 11.35) from observations on the NoFence.

Thursday 30th July - All Good

Found the cows at ///spaces.wrenching.hers. I've never fought my way through that part before. There were a few open spaces with lovely flowering purple heather. Very pretty.

 Anyway, no issues. They were being bothered by the flies, as usual, but that didn't bother them too much. 

 

Wednesday 29th July - Morning

 Checked the trough, all good and lovely clean water.

The cows were in what would have been the duck pond.  They were engrossed in eating and totally ignored me even when offering back scratches.

They were all looking good with no issues.

Monday 27th July all seen 10.45 resting in the rhodis

 All 4 seen resting in the rhodis. Lots of flies on them but they looked fine

Location in photos 

Sunday 26 July 2026, (07.45 - 08.50) All 4 Seen. All OK. Trough checked.

 I had been monitoring the location of the boys from about 05.30 this morning at home.  I'd  seen that they were originally in the "duck pond" area and the were moving north.  I set off to see them on bike when they were in open ground in J4 and approaching the main NW-SE track.

However, when I actually got there they had already crossed the track and were in the jungle north of the track in I3.  It took a fair bit of scrabbling about, under/through the bracken, gorse, brambles and over uneven ground, as well as waiting to check for the NoFence to update to ascertain my position relative to the ones not seen yet, (which of course affords them the opportunity to swap positions).  However, I eventually found all four of the boys.  Several times I followed the noise of one of the boys pulling plants to eat or moving through jungle, creating my own "path", only to find when I got near him, that he'd already been clocked !   

After getting myself and my bike from the jungle, (I take it in a little was to save leaving it unattended on the track for an unknown length of time), I lick my battle wounds and head for the trough, which was full and clear, with some of the tree detritus, (described & removed by Gordon yesterday) floating on the surface. 

 I started clearing this, after which I decided to clear the other matter at the bottom of the trough. I took out about two bucketfulls of leaves/ sticks, twigs & the occasional stone.

 Afterwards, the water in the trough was all cloudy, but I'd removed about 85% of the matter at the bottom..  When it settles and clears, hopefully you'll be able to see the silver bottom of the trough.  I wonder if that'll taste better for the boys or of they preferred as it was.  Ho Hum. 

Saturday 25th July - All 4 seen - NoFence collars still triggering while drinking at the water trough - can this be sorted please?

At 14:50 this afternoon, the boys were grazing north of the Duck Pond. I decided to approach them from the south, wandering through the completely dry pond before reaching the woodland on the far side, only to realise they were a little further north than I had first thought. I was just about to turn around and head back when youngster 283 emerged over a muddy bank to greet me. He thoroughly enjoyed a long head and neck rub before ambling back down the bank, with me following behind. Youngster 282 must have spotted me and welcomed me with a moo before coming over to say hello. Youngsters 276 and 278 soon appeared from the thicket to the northwest. The boys were all very friendly, taking turns to enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Unfortunately, they were being bothered by large numbers of flies today, especially around their eyes and nostrils, but were happy for me to gently brush them away, even if it was only temporary.

After our initial greetings, the boys gathered around me in the bushes near ///annoys.classic.joys to rest and chew their cud, with me offering a little protection from the flies. They took turns leaning in for long neck and back scratches while they rested. They were especially affectionate, offering plenty of gentle head rubs and licks in return.

By 15:55, the boys had crossed the bank and started grazing in the dry Duck Pond. Youngster 278 soon came back over to stand with me, far more interested in another back scratch than grazing. By 16:10, he had returned to grazing with the others, and a short while later I said my goodbyes, quietly slipping away and leaving them grazing peacefully. I had almost made it through the woodland back to the main path near the car park when I heard rustling behind me and turned to find the boys had decided to follow me once again.

After another round of strokes and scratches, the boys happily grazed on fresh grass and browsed leaves from the trees. I was just about to say my goodbyes again when one of the Landmarc team spotted me from the road and came in for a catch-up. While we were chatting, the boys clearly wanted my attention, mooing frequently and coming over to offer gentle head rubs. Once we'd finished chatting, I wandered further south into the shade, and the boys soon gathered around me once more, keen for more attention. I eventually managed to slip away at 16:55, leaving them resting peacefully.

Before leaving, I went to check the trough, which was covered with thin, needle-like leaves from the tree above. I managed to clear most of them, but with a gentle breeze blowing, more continued to fall into the water. The trough was full, and the water was clean. I was just about to leave and head back to the car when the boys arrived at 17:15 for a drink. Unfortunately, once again, as I reported on 4 July, their collars gave an audible warning before delivering a shock while they were drinking. Please, can the boundary be extended to stop this happening, as this is very likely the only drinking water available on site at present? I do have a video of youngster 276's collar sounding and him getting shocked if anyone from HIWWT would like it. I left for the final time soon after, leaving the boys resting in the shade of the trees.

The cattle were all good today.

 

Friday 24 July 26. (12.05 - 12.20) All Four Seen. All OK

I found all four stood under thick Rhodi bush very close to the northern perimeter fence in H8.

J'Adore was up for a short head scratch.  Jet and Jeans, were not interested at all.  Jura was a lot more friendly.  He seemed to really enjoy his head scratch, especially behind the ears.  I think he's my favourite !  Oh no, did I say that aloud?  Too late now.
 

I then went and checked on the trough, whick was full of lovely clear water.  I very nearly got in.   As I was  emerging from the tree cover into the open meadow, I heard the distinct noise of a merlin engine and looking up I was rewarded with a fine view of a Spitfire passing overhead heading north, as if landing at Blackbushe Airport. 

Thursday 23rd July - All Good

 Cows were easy to get to today thanks to the 'swamp' being dry. Found them at ///unlimited.panther.common. Loads of flies on them though. They looked great.

 

Sorry not feeling well today so I will not get to check the cows

Sunday 19th all seen J4 9.30

 All seen this morning looking fine

Saturday 18th July - All 4 seen

Shortly before 14:30 this afternoon, the cattle were grazing in the thicket northwest of the entrance by the car park, near ///wasps.camera.dice. They all quickly emerged when they spotted me approaching, greeting me with a chorus of moos. The boys each took turns coming over to say hello, leaning in for plenty of strokes and rubs. Youngsters 276 and 282 were especially friendly, offering gentle head rubs in return. The boys looked far more comfortable today, with the gentle breeze taking the edge off the heat. Unfortunately, there were still plenty of flies around, but they didn't seem too bothered. All four were happy, relaxed, and looking well.

After our initial greetings, the boys soon gathered around me to relax and chew their cud. They took turns stepping forward for long neck and back scratches. After a while, they started to drift away to graze, although one always stayed with me for company, happy to enjoy a little more attention. When I wandered back to the car for a drink, they all followed, clearly curious about where I was going so soon into my visit. When I returned, they were soon back to enjoying plenty more fuss and, although they clearly noticed the noise from the US Air Force F-35A during its validation flight for the Farnborough Airshow, they settled again quickly.

After a while, we moved further west into the shade, where the boys once again gathered around me, content to stand together and chew their cud while I helped keep the flies away from their eyes. They all enjoyed long back scratches while resting, returning the affection with more head rubs and plenty of licks. Around 16:00, youngster 282 moved into the bushes to lie down and rest, with youngsters 278 and 283 wandering over to graze beside him. Youngster 276 was happy to soak up plenty more attention before he too went to lie down. I slipped away at 16:10, leaving them all resting peacefully.

Before leaving, I gave the trough a good clean and made sure it was full in case the boys stopped off later for a drink.

The cattle were all good today.