Peter Manning | Tues 30 Aug

 All 4 cattle by a tree in the middle of Ashley Meadow, not too far from the gate. Two lying and 2 standing and moving a little. All looked well and all cudding. They have been moving around in the past week as vegetation has been widely disturbed, but they do not seem to eat much. Pasture pump working well and electric fence seemed ok.

Cattle checked by David Sat & Sun and Jo Tuesday

 Cattle all ok over the weekend as was the pasture pump and electric fence. 

This was the same when I checked today. All cattle under the large willow in the centre of Ashley Meadow. All look well and relaxed, not many flies around them, 3 sitting down and one having a scratch on the tree. 

Peter also saw them today and found them in a similar situation. 

Friday 26th August 2022

11 am.  Ashley Meadow. Walked beside the electric fence and checked the fence equipment: all working ok. Checked the pump on the way: it was fine.

Cattle were together by the western fence  a little way north  of the electric fence.  All four together, 3 in the shade and one sunning itself.  All four clean and alert and not bothered by flies.

Richard 

Cattle move successful

 The British Whites have now been moved into Ashley Meadow, they seemed pretty keen to move and were happily eating straight away. 

Please remember to check the electric fence is working and the pasture pump is when you carry out your checks. 

Thank you for all of your help so far this season. 

Peter Manning | Tues 23 Aug

All 4 cattle munching near the east boundary, about 3/4 of the way down. All looked good, though 056 had noticeably more flies on his/her nose. The pasture pump now seems to be working better.

Friday 19th and Sunday 21st Cattle lookering

Friday 19th 8.30am,   the cattle were by the southern gate, clean alert and looking well.  Sunday 21st 2.30 pm the 4 cattle were sitting together  under a tree in the middle of the fen level with the southern gate. They were.alert and clean and there were no flies on them. The pasture pump works well.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Pasture pump

 I've just adjusted the pasture pump and it's working well. Jo 

Peter Manning | Tues 16 Aug

 Concern over the pasture pump. When I arrived the tray was almost dry. It took a while of pumping to get any water, the impression and noise was as if the pipe to the stream was almost empty. After that the water flowed reasonably, but the arm didn't seem to go to its rest position correctly. When left there was a slight noise like escaping air. Suspect the pump inner diaphragm may be split/damaged/leaking. One of the large males did use it, but when my fill of the tray was emptied (in a couple of gulps) he seemed to have difficulty getting enough water out. Perhaps doesn't help that the whole pump and tray is leaning back a little, but certainly to my mind not working as well as it should/did.

Four cattle were all on their feet and eating by N boundary, not so much troubled by flies in the slightly cooler weather. Male 132 a little troubled with rubbing face/neck and rump on tree/fence; perhaps a little lethargic with a not so wet nose.

Sunday 14th August

All four cattle ok. We know the pumpworks because we watched one take a very long drink from it. The other three also came to it for a drink.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Friday 12th 22

Checked cattle- all ok. 

Lots of dog walkers, one with four dogs some of which were not on leads. One on a lead was frantically paddling in the canal stirring up lots of silt.

Chatted to a bird watcher at the screens.Great white egrets and a heron but not much else to be seen there.

We think we saw an osprey from one of the viewing platforms along the canal.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Cattle Monday and Tuesday

 Cattle and pasture pump checked after Keith reported it wasn't working too well, Jack and I were able to get this sorted so it is working well and drawing plenty of water. I also checked it Tuesday afternoon and it was still working well. The cattle were all sat down in the shade looking relaxed. 

Friday 5th August

Opened gate just before 8. Immediately after man drive in asking about the whiskered term.

Met other bird watchers along the canal path, some looking for the tern

 Another said it had not been seen yet this morning but the osprey had been seen.

After checking the cattle (all ok), went to the screens. We think we saw the tern flying over the South lake.

Two great white egrets on the North lake, squabbling as usual. Heron there too.

Lots of dog walkers along the canal path.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Peter Manning | Tues 02 Aug

Cattle in mid-southern half of the fen, just spotted from the gate. All lying down, troubled by flies around the eyes. All looked well, but just looked tired out, sometimes lying with heads on the ground. Maybe a struggle with the warmth and humidity. Pasture pump working OK.