Richard and Elizabeth Saturday 30th September

At Fishlake today to do last butterfly survey of the year. Saw no butterflies, but also checked the cows.  

Eventually sighted the cows  from.the east-west path using binoculars. They were just visible at the far end of the meadows. They were moving around together. 

Richard and Elizabeth 

Richard and Elizabeth - Friday 29th September

When we arrived at the gate of Ashley Meadows, the white cow was just visible at the far side of the field, but the others were hidden. I (Richard) went to look for them. All 7 were together at the western side of the field about half way along it.

They were all eating and moving around together. All look very clean and healthy.

They must be getting used to me,  because they did look up and looked at me,  when I got close, but then carried on eating.

The field is very wet, with standing water everywhere. You need wellies and overtrousers to keep dryish. A stick is useful for support: the ground is very rough. It is hard  wet work pushing through the vegetation.

The electric fence is not working.

We wonder if the cattle nuts can be brought to Ashley Meadows: they are still at the fen. The blue bucket  is at Ashley Meadows. 

Whilst I was moving through the meadows Elizabeth stayed  at the gate. A visitor asked her what I was doing.  Was looking for butterflies or birds? He was surprised by the answer- 7 cows.

Richard and Elizabeth 

Jackie Butler - Thurs 28th Sept

 Jackie was by herself today, so didn't go in the field with the cows, but could clearly see all seven were present and correct and looking well. 

It's a good thing Peter noted in his Tuesday blog that the cows had moved to Ashley Meadows, because we hadn't heard any other way, and when Jackie first arrived they were only just visible. She noted that the food and pump have not been moved over.

I forgot to add to the blog last Thursday (21st) when Jackie checked them, alone again, and found them to be well.

Peter Manning | Tues 26 Sept

Cows have now moved to Ashley Meadow, only just visible from the gate as they were in the NE quadrant. All seemed well at around 10am and eating voraciously. More approachable now, can get within 10m without any food incentive. Much standing water below the vegetation, have not seen Ashley Meadow so wet. Careful of your ankles! No pasture pump installed. Electric fence was silent so seemed not to be working. Probably needs strimming below the electric fence, and a few of the plastic fencing posts needed to stop wires sagging especially towards the western end.

Peter Manning | Tues 19 Sept

All 7 cattle in the sw quadrant of the Western Fen around 10am, spread out a lot more than usual, could only be seen from the screens path not the main gate. NW of the fen is still relatively dry, but most of the rest very wet, almost lost a welly again. Vegetation getting quite low.

Friday 15th September

8.30am Friday. The cows were near the gate. We put a handful.ofvcattle nuts in the basket and two of the blacks one, 876 and 909, came to it. They seem to be friends because 876 allowed 909 to have some. When another black one came near 876 head butted it away.

They allowed me to stand a few paces away from them. The white one was busy eating.

We went tomthe screens and returned tomthe gate to see if we could check the white one. It  came to the gate when attracted by a small handful of  more nuts. It scoffed the lot.  Then smelled my hand, which it did not like.

All seven were clean, if a bit damp, and seem in good health.

I checked the pump, but it produced only a small squirt of water. Three of the cows  went to the pump and operated it. They obviously wanted to drink. I doubt if they got much.

Richard and Elizabeth

Nick Butler: Thursday 14th Sept

The white cow came over to the gate to get some food. Unfortunately the other six didn't follow - perhaps they know that the white cow won't let them have any of it. The white cow looked well. I didn't try to get to the other six, as they were several hundred metres away and the light was going, but saw them all wandering around.

Peter Manning | Tues 12 Sept

Around 10:20 all 7 cattle looking well near the N fence of western Fen. They come to me if I have food, but the cream one bags it all! The cream one approached close enough to sniff and even lick my hand. They all followed me back to the gate because I was carrying the (empty) food tub. Pasture pump not working and they have now cleared quite a bit of the vegetation, Ashley Meadow seems to be prepared for their moving.

Friday 8th September

The cattle were all close together near the big bank of brambles at the north west end of the fen.

We initially  looked for them from the permissive path, but I had to go into the fen to check them.

All seven were eating and moving well. All were clean. 

Luckily the white one was too busy head down eating to notice me. The black ones were alert and noticed me but  decided I was harmless because I didn't go close.

The pump does not work, but the fen, even at the north end, is still very wet.

Richard and Elizabeth

Peter Manning | Tues 05 Sept

All 7 cattle present and correct around 8am, located from the gate. Went in with some cattle nuts in the tub. When the cream one saw me I just lifted the tub up so it could be seen, and up they all came to me. All knew what the tub contained, but the cream boss would not let others get near. All still quite nervous, but looked in fine health. Pasture pump just giving out a dribble of muddy water.

1st September

A warm but damp/wet morning around 8.30. The cattle were sheltering under the willow tree near the gate so we could see all 7. The white one stood guard eyeing us carefully.

They all look healthy and move easily.All 7 were clean, and their eyes seem fine viewing them with binoculars. They stayed closely together.

The white one stayed still watching us as long as we stayed by the gate, but moved slowly away when I took a couple of slow steps towards her.

The bucket of food near the gate looked untouched.

I checked the pump. The basin was full of water (rain?) but operating the lever seems to have no effect.

Richard