Hi all,
Ice on trough already broken today. All 4 spread out in the area to the right of the gate by the railway bridge car park. Bramble and fallen acorns were today's favourites. All fit and well.
Thursday 15 th December @2-40
Went to the water trough first and broke up more of the frozen water. The pipes are frozen but met Chris at the trough later who was trying to unfreeze them.
Found three cows, 2088, 0075, 160, but no sign of 175 , Eagle who no doubt was buried in the gorse thicket. Three I saw all moving very quickly and munching well.
what3words. genetics.aspect.shadowing.
Judith Head
All four found in the heather looking quite sleepy in the haze winter sunshine. At ///cautious.protects.suiting
Found 2 cows pursuing a white van near the trough. Thought it might be a ranger but not sure? Followed them down the track to the gate after checking the trough which was icy but accessible. They met up with the other 2 near the gate. All looked fine but somehow disappointed not to be given something to eat?
11.00am W3W: eruptions.trousers.lifestyle
Thursday 8th December
What a beautiful day to be a “Livestock Looker”
I found three cow bottoms sticking out of the gorse, and one face of cow 2088, Teasel.All were munching happily and appeared content.
I did find “ What 3 words” on my phone but later realised I would be somewhere in Western Australia, which the cows and I , are not. Apologise, we were in Bramshot Heath 🙄
Judith Head
All four by the water trough searching for acorns? Can’t think what else they would be eating in amongst the fallen leaves. All looking health and content.
10.00am all 4 eating heather at W3W: bombard.coast.relatives. All looked well. Trough full and clear.
All four very widely spread out as singletons over the area. Dish of the day - brambles. All fit and well.
Thursday 1st December @ 1-45
I eventually found three cows in a thick, thicket of Gorse bushes, so could only see a cow shape through the Gorse as it was so thick.
Cow 2088 was on the grassy verge not too far away and he looked damp, but healthy and happy.
Cows at “W3W” Hiker.View.Exhaled.
Trough full.
Judith Head
Found 3 of the 4 but #75 eluded my best efforts. All fit and well taking Heather and gorse in the centre of the area. Trough OK.
Found all 4 around the area by the trough at 07:15, one rubbing their back on a wonky branch, seemed to be enjoying themselves. All looks good and calm. I have reported the total mess the army have made (and yes I appreciate they own the land and we are lucky to use it) but having been a volunteer for some 13 years now, I was so upset to see the horrendous tracks left all over the Heath. Such a shame they couldn’t think about the landscape!
Dish of the day: gorse. All 4 browsing in H13. All look super fit if a bit damp. Not bothered by a growly bull terrier it's owner had little control of either.
All 4 found fine and dandy in the gorse just up from the trough. Trough is fine and clear. They were very vocal as usual and Caledonia was rather pushy to the point I had to tel her off for getting a bit too excited.
All 4 routing for acorns or eating grass near the main gate. All look good. Evan doesn't seem any the worse for wear after last week's adventures!😄
Trough and fence repair all ok.
10.45 am
All 4 in the centre of the area truffling through leaf litter for fallen acorns. All fit and well.
3 out of 4 found eating moss and acorns. Couldn't find Evan today. Trough clear and very full.
W3W: Corrode.powder.takeover
1.00pm
Found all the gang at w3w ///undercuts.headed.hangs
Everyone seemed well, if not incredibly vocal today!
Caught up with Evan walking to the trough for a long drink. Caledonia called out so checked him too. Couldn't find the others today.
9.45am
Eventually, found all 4 in the centre of the area. 2 grazing short grass, 2 truffling leaf litter for fallen acorns. All fit and well. TroughOK.
They must have regrouped! Found them all after a few loops, hanging round by the trough. All well no issues.
Found Teasel and Evan eating grass at W3W: gestures.replying.sunbeam. Both looked in good health. Couldn't see the other 2, which is unusual as they're usually all close together.
Trough full to the brim from yesterday's storms.
10.45am
Found (just!) 3 of 4 (Teasel and 2 boys) deep in the super thick gorse by the track junction in I10. All well if a spot damp. Expect the fourth was too well hidden.
All 4 in M and N10 either side the track. Teasel taking fallen acorns. All fit and well. Trough OK.
Evan, Teasel and Caledonia all sunning themselves at 1.15pm this afternoon. Couldn't locate Eagle today, but the others looked great. Trough fine.
W3W: nooks.beep.horses
Thursday 6th October @ 11-15
Cow 160 There was a lot of slimy mucus around the nose and flies were buzzing all over its face.
The cow pat it just produced was a bit wet and the cow just looked” under the weather” I left it drinking from the trough, which was full.
Cows 2088, 175 and 75 looked happy and well, munching away
Judith
Found all four, a little spread out so had to ‘hoof’ it! All looking fine and dandy.
After a very long walk (trough) OK and I was about to leave for the Hartland car park, looked back and they appeared on the track. All in good condition. Winter coats growing?
All 4 found eating acorns around the trough area. All look fit and well. Trough clear.
11.00am
I don’t want to ‘milk’ it but they’re getting harder to find!! All four found although took some searching this morning. Found in some dense bush area to right of main path.
Found 3 out of 4 around a track/eating grass. All OK.
10.00am W3W: rash.charted.blown
A long walk round. Trough OK Cows then by gate on the way out! All in fine condition. Teasel grazing grass, the boys hoovering up fallen acorns off the track.
Cows lying cudding in L10. #160 has signs of a weepy right eye. Flies around minor scratch on #75's right flank. Quite a lot of flies on them all but generally look good. Trough OK.
I was surprised to be “greeted” by Cow 175 as I walked onto the heath. She was standing by herself, quite some distance from the other three cows, but she seemed content; apart from the usual flies bothering her eyes. A little discharge I think.
The three other cows just munching away happily, no problems.
The trough was full.
W3W: Avoiding.Offer.Rehearsed.
Judith Head
All 4 found lying in amongst the ferns near the trough. Evan and Teasel seem to both have trails from discharge from their eyes but I don't know whether that's a problem or not? Pesky flies still around. Other than that all seem ok. Trough full.
10.45am
For the second Sunday running they were hard to find, then I only found #160 and #175 grazing behind the gorse in I12. They were fit and well. No sign of the others. Trough OK.
Thursday 25th August @ 1-45pm
The water trough was full.
The cows were grazing on the opposite area and all very peaceful.
Cow 175 was standing so was able to do a visual check as shown a few weeks ago. All well.
Cow160, Cow 2088, Cow 75, all lying down. All appeared fine. Still flies around eyes on all of them but many less than last Thursday, thank goodness.
Judith
After much walking finally found all four looking fine and enjoying some grass. Who would think they ‘curd’ hide so easily?!
All 4 together chewing the cud, opposite the trough. All look fine. Trough almost full.
10.20am
Trough OK. Found 3 of the 4. Teasel. Caledonia and Evan, all vastly separated by scrub and gorse across the area. No sign of Eagle despite my best efforts armed with a jacket this week to push through gorse. The 3 seen all fit and well. Teasel last seen alone stomping off south. Fed up with the boys?
Thursday 18th August @10-45am
The trough was full.
All four cows in the shade looking very peaceful, under the trees on opposite side of road from trough area
Cow 160 Too many flies on both eyes. No obvious discharge.
Cow 2088 Too many flies on both eyes but no obvious discharge.
Cow 175 Seemed very chilled.
Cow 75 Peacefully apart from other three cows as usual.
All seemed content but as they were lying down, I was not able to check them over visually.
All four seen laying down mostly snoozing and looking ‘udderly’ fantastic. No issues noted.
Trough OK. Teasel by track junction in I10 patiently waiting for the boys to emerge from super thick gorse. #75 and #175 eventually did. Only saw #160's back through the gorse. No way through for me wearing a t shirt!
All browsing oak, bracken and gorse. Definitely no eye trouble with the 3 I could get to fully.
Hi everyone, thank you for your continued support of our grazing project. Please read the following reminders.
Reporting Emergencies
If there is ever something wrong with:
-a trough
-a gate
-a fence
-a natural water source
Or there is something dangerous to livestock, such as:
-fly tipping (litter and vegetation)
-fires lit (including BBQs and recently doused fires)
-dens built (ropes to be chewed on, nails trodden on, tarpaulin etc.)
Please phone us immediately. While we do our best to monitor the blogs, things do sometimes get missed and problems posted over the weekend don't get picked up until Monday. Even if you are not sure if something is an urgent issue, far better to let us know so we can make an informed decision.
The office number is 01256 381190 and voicemail will direct you to who is on call.
Heatwaves and fires
All our sites are incredibly dry at the moment and at high risk from fires. What to do if you notice a fire risk on site:
Smouldering BBQs/bonfires - put out with a bucket of water if possible (fill up from a nearby trough/stream). If not possible, do not leave it unattended. Call the site manager/on call staff member and wait with it until someone arrives to put it out.
If you deem the fire to be at risk of escalating, trust your gut and please alert the fire services on 999.
As the temperatures rise again, please take care while you are out on site. Take plenty of water, sun cream, a hat and please let someone know you have gone out. It is best to go out at first light or later in the evening when the sun is less intense. You know yourselves best, so don't push yourselves and stay safe.
Blog etiquette
Please continue to only use the blogs to report your cattle sightings or to let everyone know if you won't be attending your usual day. If you have noticed a non urgent issue, please put it at the beginning of your post or mention it in the title so that we can quickly find out about it.
Flies on cows
Unfortunately, flies are an unpleasant part of life for cows and and ponies at this time of year. It is bothersome for them and there isn't a lot we can do other than continue to monitor the condition of their eyes. If the eyes start to look cloudy, then the flies have become too much and we will need to intervene. Other than that, we spray them for flies once a month.
Any questions, please get in touch! Thanks once again and happy cow spotting!
Eagle's eyes are still a little weepy. Lots of flies around all 4's faces, but other than that all look good. Found all 4 lying down and chewing the cud near the trough, which is fine.
9.30am
Apologies, I'm unable to do next Monday's look - Monday 15th August.
All stood and super calm by the trough. No sign of problem with Eagle's eye. All fit and well. Trough OK.
All 4 still by the trough, lying down. Teasle was snoring!😆 Flies still around. Eagle has some discharge from his left eye.
Trough fine.
10.50am
All lying near the trough. A few flies about but they were not bothering them. All fit and well. Trough OK.
Sorry, it’s not my designated day but I was over there at 5:30 this morning when we found them all opposite the trough, just getting up the looks of it. All looking ok. One did have a slobbery mouth, not really notice that before but I couldn’t see clearly who it was but the tag. Trough all ok too.
They are obviously using the area by the trough regularly as the mess is horrendous, any chance someone can clear some of it up? I’ve had a couple of regulars mention that wherever you walk you can’t avoid it 🤦♀️
Found all 4 in the woodland directly next to the fleet pond track. Everyone vocal upon seeing the truck but otherwise happy.
Harry
All 4 lying down chewing the cud. Looking content.
Trough fine.
10.45am W3W: endlessly.witless.nearly
No finds today. Trough full and surrounding area covered in cow dung so they've clearly been making the most of it in the heat!
9.30am
All 4 found just off the track leading from the big white gate to the trough. Very vocal as usual and their coats are looking extremely clean and white for some reason. Probably no rain to get them muddy. 088s coat is looking like a well groomed thoroughbred race horse #shiny
Trough all good
At 0830 hrs all lying by the trough. Quite a few flies but they were not bothered. Looking good. Trough OK.
All 4 together, similar place to yesterday by the description. 3 lying in the sun, Teasle standing and eating heather. Some flies about but otherwise healthy looking.
Trough full.
10.30am W3W: massing.competing.stiffly
Found the original 3 in and around the gorse near the entrance. All OK. No sign of the new boy (175) unless he was deep in the gorse like Teasel.
Saw all 4 eating grass and/or holly at 3.30pm. All looked in good health. Trough almost full to the brim.
W3W: denim/megawatt/depth
Trough OK. All 4 tucked away in L8 early this morning lying cudding. Looking very fit and well.
All 4 found lying in the sun near the trough. All looked good. Trough full and clear.
10.50am
I think the new boy's tag is 10075. Is that Eagle?
Found the cattle early this morning in L13 lying cudding out of sight almost from most walkers. All very fit and well.
Sorry, late blog! Found all 4 at 11.50am. All looked good if a little soggy. All eating grass.
W3W: breakfast.truffles.wrenching
All 4 easily found near the large 'womping willow' tree. Chewing the cud and lying down. All look fine. Trough full and clear.
Does our new boy have a name?
10.00am K12/W3W: vocal.seducing.district
Unable to find them today, which is a shame as I was hoping to meet the new kid on the block - perhaps he's led them astray!
Trough clear and full.
All 4 lying cudding in G12 away from all the dog walkers. All 4 look very well. Just a few flies around their eyes.
Found all 3 under the trees near the Southwood Lane parking area gate. All fine.
11.00am W3W: crackled/thing/overdone
