Friday 30 November 26. (10:00 - 10:15) All 3 Seen in H5/6. All well.

 They were just 3-10

yards north of the sandy track, about half way between the ammo dump and the Hawley Hard cattle grid.  They were on the move,  heading ESE parallel with the sandy track.  

Thursday 29th October - All good

All the boys found easily near the middle entrance (J7). The all looked good.

I thought Jura looked a little skinny though, compared to the other two. But as there was a staff check last Tuesday, I'm sure you would have noticed if that was something to be concerned about.

 

 

Wednesday 28th - Morning

 Cows were in thick scrub over here

As far as I could see there were no issues with them.

Instead of walking back across the site I went to climb over the fence.  When I got there 2 strands of the fence had been cut.  I made a temporary repair and phoned it in.  Sean was going to sort out a permanent repair.

Tuesday 27th - Staff Check

 Did the first part of the cows' TB test today. All looked well - Ned attempted to shave off part of the horn of 283, but its still very close to his head so may have to get someone in to look at it

Monday 26 October 26. (08:50 - 09:15) All Three Seen in J6 & J7. All Well.

 Jeans, was under the tree, just a few yards west of the cattle grid opposiute to the entrance to Hawley Hard.

Jet was about 50 yards north of Jet, just off the sandy track in the grassy entrance that heads NE.

  Jura was about 40 yards north of Jet.

All were busy grazing and were not interested in interacting with me.  However, when I returned to collect my bike, (which I'd left not far from the cattle grid) Jeans was still in that area.  When I approached he was not interested in any head scratches and made a low moo,  which I assumed was to get a location on the other two, (one of whom replied).  I walked over to my bike and he was just stood looking at me.  So, I returned to him and he endured/enjoyed a long neck scratch on the lhs of his neck.  

As I rode off and over the cattle grid, Jeans had resumed grazing and I saw that Jet was now in the same area, only a few yards from Jeans.

Sunday 25 October 26. (08:50 - 09:00) All Three Seen in E5/D5/D6. All OK

 They were on just a few yards north of the ammo dump compound, when I first came upon them.  However, there were mostly moving the west.    All appeared fit and well.

Saturday 24th October - All 3 seen

At 14:50 this afternoon, the boys were sheltering from the heavy rain in the woodland about 100 metres west of the entrance by the tarmac road, near ///wacky.sofas.swarm. Youngster 283 spotted me approaching and wandered over to the edge of the trees to say hello and enjoy a neck rub. Youngsters 278 and 282 soon followed, patiently waiting for their turns to say hello and enjoy some fuss. The boys were all soaking wet, having been grazing near the ammo compound before I arrived. The trees were providing some shelter, but the rain was still getting through, leaving them even wetter.

After our initial hellos, the boys soon gathered around me to rest and chew their cud. They took turns to step forward, initially to have the water brushed off their backs and sides before settling into lengthy neck, shoulder and back scratches. Despite having a wet head, youngster 282 insisted on giving me plenty of head rubs in return. The boys were all happy, relaxed and looking well.

Around 15:30, when the rain eased a little, I slipped off to check the water trough. It was covered in a thick layer of pine needles and leaves from the trees above, blown down by yesterday's breezy weather. I gave the trough a good clean, and just as I was finishing, the heavens opened again, with the rain bouncing off the surface of the water.

Afterwards, I returned to spend some more time with the boys. In the short time I was away, they had drifted apart slightly and found more sheltered spots. They were all happy to be approached and thoroughly enjoyed plenty more strokes and rubs as they rested.

I said my goodbyes at 16:20, but the boys clearly weren't ready for me to leave and followed me back to the entrance by the tarmac road. We all sheltered under the trees while each of them enjoyed another back scratch before I finally bid them farewell about ten minutes later. As I was leaving, they crossed the tarmac road and started grazing in the thicket on the far side.

The cattle were all good today.