Monday 30 October

 The ponies appeared unfazed by the overnight poor weather . All around the corral. The lightest colour one stayed at the back under the cover of the tree. I checked the cows on the Dongas and they were at the far top corner munching away. 2 dog walkers approached informed about the cows and asked to put their dogs on leads. Nick

Sunday 29th October

 A very wet day. Fortunately the ponies were easy to find. 

Happily grazing despite the weather and now mud free for the time being. No flies!

Saturday 28th October

Dodging the showers, found the ponies just off the main path not far from the corral. They were mostly enjoying the Hawthorn berry feast, very much enjoying the feast! They seemed really happy, looked good and seemed happy to see me (or that could be wishful thinking 😊). Kat was still very muddy, so looked she'd had a really good time, and why not. 

Thurs 26th - lunchtime check. Road open again...

I popped in to plan some site management works and found the ponies along the bottom track. They were all looking great, but Kat looked like she had been rolling in lots of mud so she'd clearly been having a good time! Flam decided against eating my jacket luckily. They are loving eating young Creeping Thistles. Has anyone else noticed the copious amount of Hawthorn seeds in the pony poo? They clearly love the berries! Water supply all very full. A beautiful day on the hill, rabbit and muntjac spotted. Thanks all for your checks!

Thursday 26th October

 A lovely sunny morning, though very wet underfoot.  The 3 ponies were all at the far (eastern) end of the track, apparently preferring the shorter grass on the track to the longer grass, and a few bits of shrubbery.  They looked a bit damp after the overnight rain, but seemed well and I didn't spot anything unusual.  They showed a passing interest in my arrival, but I clearly had no special goodies. Troughs were all full.

A quick thank you

 I love reading the Blog and looking at all your great photos, and I wanted to quickly check-in and thank you all personally for volunteering your time to check the cattle and ponies. 

As an aside, please keep a lookout for signs of food. Carrots were discovered on the ground a week ago which are not good for the ponies despite people's views that they are treats. Of even more importance at this time of the year is to be extra vigilant as people often dump pumpkins for the livestock thinking that they are also a tasty treat. They can prove to be lethal, especially in large quantities as they cause choke. Hopefully with the Morestead road closure we will not have a problem.

Thanks again, Jayne :)  

Monday 23rd October - All cows off

Hi All, 

We've taken off the three girls, they are happily grazing away over on Dongas St Caths. 

Thank you so much for keeping an eye on them! 

Grazing Team 

Sunday 22nd October

 I know how the Grand ol Duke of York must have felt…marching up and down that hill!! But he wasn’t on a pony hunt. Eventually found them, and they are obviously moving well because by the time I got back from checking the cows….they were gone again! Ponies were in good shape, but rather muddy and still enjoying hawthorn berries. Cows were all lying down probably through having full tums rather than expecting more rain!

Saturday 21st October

Planned my visit to the hill between the downpours, and the sun came out and the hill looked magnificent! It was a great day for wildlife spotting, probably helped with the Morestead Road shut. 

The little muntjac was by the corral when I arrived, so watched him quietly from a distance for a bit. He was foraging under the trees. Managed to sneak past without disturbing him and headed up the path where I pretty quickly bumped into the elusive ponies. They were looking a bit soggy, especially Flam with her having a lighter coat. And she was happily munching away on Hawthorn berries, whilst Doune and Kat grazed nearby and were huddled together. 

Strolled up to the eastern edge and in the next field there was a male pheasant and his harem of about 7 female (or juvenile) pheasants. The firing range was in full swing, so maybe the noise was keeping them further up the hill. And I had a look at the completed road and spotted another male pheasant strutting along the road without a care in the world. Hopefully he'll get over it quickly or things might not end up so well once the busy road reopens. The road works appear to be near the bottom now, so I assume it won't take too much longer, which is a good and bad thing. 

The cows were up by the fence line, attracted to the sweet grasses on the other side of the fence apparently. But they looked great and really happy, and the flies seem have reduced slightly, although Dolly had lots on her flank which seemed to be irritating her a bit. 

Friday 20th October

Look where they were when I arrived! At the gate scratching. They then moved to the bowser and scratched there! They all seem fine and no flies today hooray. 

The water container was almost full so I didn’t fill anymore. All is well on the hill 😃

Thursday 19th Oct

 I met the cattle coming towards me as I walked east along the top path.  They were apparently looking for a different area to graze.  They showed a passing interest in my arrival but were in good form, and looking very well fed.  Water levels checked and were fine.

Not my week to check the ponies and I did not see them - they were not at the far east end by the bowser or visible from the top path.

Wednesday 18th Oct.

 

No sign of ponies having started the new lick by the corral. A bit of searching and found them happily browsing below the big clump of Beeches. all looked well. Troughs full, cows by fence, black one got to her feet without too much huffing and puffing. Looking fine.

Lots of birdsong. The Merlin bird app gave me: European Robin, Eurasian jackdaw, Carrion crow, Eurasian wren common firecrest and european greenfinch as closest matches. Saw a muntjack deer near the bridge and some pheasants.

Sunday 15th

 Sorry for the late post. Got distracted by the rugby yesterday and a hospital appt this morning.

Cows enjoying the fresh munch on offer at the extreme west of their enlarged territory and both they and the ponies getting much less attention from flies as the temperatures drop.

Ponies also enjoying the beautiful day and looked in great nick.  

Monday 16 October

 A little chilly but the sun was out, nice day. The ponies were towards the top of the site near the path and the cows along the road fence line. The ponies were curious and started to follow me back down the path. A kite, kestrel and hen pheasant were also seen. Nick

Saturday 14th October

Lovely autumn day on the hill, with the road works working close to the western gate. Probably why the ponies weren't at the corral as usual. Walked up to the eastern gate and then back along the top path before finding the cows right next to their barrier poles. They were laying down taking in the lovely sunshine and looking pretty relaxed. No signs of any discomfort or issues. Still a lot of flies, but maybe less than last week. 

Then watched a crow having a dog fight with a buzzard, not sure who won, and tried to find where the ponies were hiding. Walked the whole site but after a good hour they didn't seem to be in their usual hiding places. I probably walked right past them without noticing, but as I had a different appointment couldn't keep looking, so will pop back in the morning to confirm they're okay. 

Friday the 13th!

I headed straight up to the cattle compartment and the ponies all took off away from the big bowser looking guilty! They had obviously been interfering with things again as the lid was flying about in the wind! Anyway they looked fine, just mischievous as ever :) the cattle were all lying down lazily cudding away with very full bellies from the look of it! Eleanor was finally convinced to get up and had a good stretch and a yawn. I extended the cattle area today to give them more to eat - exceptionally easy to do on my phone. You'll notice that it is extended about 80 metres to the west. Filled the IBC too so there is plenty of water. A wild and windy day on the hill and nice to have no road noise. A kestrel pair were flying low and landing on the road too. I think the cattle will be moved over to The Dongas in teh next couple of weeks for a while, and will the return to Deacon.

Thurdsay 12th October

 A grey and drizzly morning, but unusually, the 3 ponies and the cattle were grazing together at the far end of the top path - 

All very harmonious and they all seemed well and content.  Water levels fine in both troughs.

Wednesday 11th Oct

 Left our bikes by the bottom gate. Ponies were there, looking good, trough full. Walked up to the cows, cudding happily near the top gate. Hiromi asked if they have names, do tell me. Black one stood up in one go and seems to have lost a bit of weight, others fine too, trough full.

Monday 9 October

 The ponies were grading on the lower slopes. All appeared in good condition. The cows were midway down the path and relaxed. Water troughs fine. By the time I got down the hill the ponies were by the pen. Nick

8th October

 Came across a Sunday work party near the top of the hill with the cows showing a lot of interest ! 

I think the ponies were playing hide and seek with me….they won!

Saturday 7th October

Lovely day on the hill, and the lack of activity on Morestead Road helped make it a little more peaceful. Cows happily munching away up by the fence (taking advantage of the quiet) at the far left of the site. Looking lovely, and happy, but still a bit bothered by flies. They looked well and couldn't spot anything of any concern. 

Found one of Misty's purple balls on the way to look for the ponies, so left it in the corral. 

Ponies were in their usual spot by the corral under the trees. Again looked really well, but Doune looked a little sorry for herself as being pestered by flies. 

Friday 6th October

What a lovely day! I managed to get past the men, jump over the tarmac and into the field. 

2 clever men were fixing the fence posts around water container.. and we’re also filling the water so one less job for me! 

Cows all lovely on the top and walking and munching, walking and munching…

Didn’t spot any red areas, red eyes or sore bits 🙌🏻 Sat with them for a bit but they ignored me and carried on past me 😂 

“Yum yum grassy Friday” 

I’m not here next week so can’t check them on Friday but back the week after. Karen 

Thursday 5th October

 Cattle were lying down, about 50m from the far trough, looking content if a bit troubled by flies.  Nothing adverse to report.  I had a bit of a play with the water supply, partly for fun and partly so that I could see how it works - which I did, although getting into the little pen with the plastic tank required unaccustomed agility, and the screw=top 'lid' was a bit fiddly.  

I wasn't due to check the ponies, which were not around when I arrived, but were near the corral when I left - they seemed fine too.

Wednesday 4th Oct.

 Busy road works, The supervisor said we could leave the bikes on the grass the other side of the road and cross their trench to the top gate. Cows were right there, black one still struggles to get back on it's feet. They looked well apart from that. Trough ok.

I'd had a brief look and checked the water, trough full, by the corral on the way up. No sign of the ponies near the cows so we cycled back down to the bottom gate, gingerly through the road works. Walked down the lower path a bit and there the ponies were. Looking well, fairly inquisitive.

More road works on the way home but the supervisor escorted us through to the park and ride. Quite a day for talking to men in hard hats. 

Tuesday 3rd October

The ponies surprised us by popping out of the bushes as we walked along to check the cows! All looked well and were grazing on the berries. Cows were found further up in the right hand corner by the gate, seemed unbothered by the work going on and enjoying the sunrise. Both troughs full and salt licks okay.

extra staff check

I visited to plan habotat management and see how the livestock are all looking. Ponies were all by the corral and looking good, with Flam really friendly as usual. Wish i could get all those burdock seeds out of their manes... Cattle all lying down chewing the cud - they are doing a grand job and I was pleased to see they had plenty of water and the sheep hurdles around the bowser were still standing. Shame they have been leaning on the fence around the IBC too much but we should be able to fix that this Friday. Thanks so much folks!

Monday 2 October

 A misty damp day but showing potential. Only 2 ponies seen on the lower slopes. I guess the other was behind a bush. The 3 cows were at the top and munching away. The rifle range noise does not phase them. The road guy let me through without issues. Nick