Tuesday 31st December

Mild but dingy today, but that didn't seem to bother our fantastic animals. Eleanor and Dilly were a little way along the main path and slightly down the hill. Eleanor was enjoying devouring a shrub. The ponies were a little spread out but further up the main path, from the Clump onwards. All pretty happy munching away. All looked well. Annoyingly Doune's easy identifying mark on

her flank has been covered by her winter coat, but still reckon I can tell her apart from Kat.

Well another year down, happy New Year all and here's to a positive and successful 2025!

Looker request

 Can anyone carry out Monday looker as I am away. Thanks in advance.

Monday 30 December

 The ponies were near the bottom of the site and the cows at the top. No issues seen. The troughs were full. 

Saturday 28th December

Arrived on site after traipsing around St Catherine's looking for 13 massive white cows. It was a bit drizzly and not very pleasant. Found the cows towards the top of the main path, not far from the top clearing. They were munching at the new bush growth and seemed pretty content. 

I then tried to find the ponies, but despite following recent tracks and droppings, they weren't to be seen. Looks like they went exploring. But as I'd seen them yesterday and I was exhausted had to move on, so to confirm no pony check today. Sorry.

Friday 27th December

Dullish day on the Hill threatening to drizzle. Started walking along the main path and spotted the cows right by the Morestead Road fence. They looked happy munching away and no signs of issues. The ponies were at the top corner of the site, a little bit spread out, but still munching away happily. Flam briefly stopped to say hello, but not a flicker from the others. All looking good. 

Boxing Day

 The 2 cows were easy to find - visible from the M'way gate, and short distance along the path.  Both were gradually heading towards the trough - which was OK.  The ponies were further along, maybe 300m or so, between the top path and the road fence, munching their way through shrubbery and some grass.  They looked very alert and happy.  I didn't check the 'far' trough, I'm afraid.

Tuesday 24th December

Dull day up on the Hill, with the cows in their normal spot by the bottom entrance trough. They looked good, nice and clear eyes and very alert. Headed off hunting the ponies and found them on the upper section by the fence and close-ish to the top trough. They were a little spread out and none of them were particularly interested in me. But again they looked well, great coats, nice clear eyes, and eating for Hampshire. 

Dilly & Eleanor doing their best Smith and Jones impression. 

Kat (a little grumpy today)

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! 😁🎄🎅

Monday 23 December

 The cows were near the top of the site and appeared content. The ponies were not seen but fresh hoof prints and fresh poo were evidence that they were around. A muntjac deer made an appearance. The troughs were full. 

Friday 20th

Sorry for a late posting.  Saw the ponies along the top track looking fine, and the cattle were thoroughly involved in the work party all morning!  Just so you know, there is a technical.issue with Dilly's collar, it isn't working! So I'm very much hoping she sticks with Eleanor but don't worry too much if you find her outside the boundary! We will sort this kn the new year.  We filled the top IBC so the water supply at the eastern end is full.  Plenty of water still at the bottom entrance.  Have a lovely Christmas all, and many thanks for all your hard work trying to find the ponies in particular! They are extremely good at hiding!!

Saturday 21st December

Dull day on the Hill but avoided the rain (and the sun). The cows were close to the main entrance trough, Eleanor relaxing whilst Dilly was munching away. 

Found the ponies up the far end of the main path. Flam was overseeing things by the bowser but came down to join the party. They all looked great, coats looking really plush and no obvious issues.

Thursday 19th December

 The cattle were fairly easy to find - towards the E end of the top path, and between the path and the road.  They were both grazing - a mix of grass and hawthorn bush - and looking fine.

The ponies were not so easy - I walked a long way, but finally located them, also between the top path and the road, but about 400m from the m'way entrance.  They were completely invisible, unless you were within about 20m of them.  Fortunately, I decided to take the 'path' which runs along the fence, but not until I had walked most of the rest of the reserve.

Both troughs were fine and full.  

A fine pair of red kites was flying over Deacon while I was tramping about achieving very little.  They made up for my lack of progress.

Wednesday 18th

 2 cows were by the bottom trough, they looked fine. Trough full. 4 ponies were on and off the path near the wood. No problems there either, we didn't check the top trough.

Tuesday 17th December

Murky day on the Hill, but a real bonus, the family was altogether about 50 metres up the main path. Hoopy was having a major scratch session on the sheep hurdles, whilst Doune was performing sentry duties. And the cows were close by, munching, moving, munching and repeat. All beasts looked in great shape. Annoyingly though, the black mark on Doune's flank has now been obliterated by her winter fluff, but it'll be fine. Everyone looking good and no issues that I could see.

Monday 16 December

 The ponies were between the bottom path and middle heading for the trough. The cows were between the road and top path. No issues noted. The troughs were full. 

Sunday 15th December

 Cows peacefully sitting down on left hand side of main track near the water trough.

Finding the ponies proved rather more difficult. Eventually found them deep in the depths between the beech copse and the far water trough. None showed me much interest!

Saturday 14th December

Bit of a rush today, and luckily found the ponies in one of their favourite haunts, on the crest of the hill between top and lower paths. They were all munching away and not in the slightest interested in me. Unfortunately I ran out of time to find the cows, but presumably they were towards the upper end of the main track. Sorry.

Thursday 12th December

 Another grey morning.  The ponies were conveniently close to the  corral, and said a brief hello before wandering off.  They looked fine as always.

The cows were right at the far eastern end of the track, and grazing happily.  Both looked fine.

Both troughs OK.

A very pale buzzard circling over Deacon Hill while I was there.  Nothing else to report!

Wednesday 11th Dec.

 4 ponies were spread out down from the main track about 1/3rd of the way to the clump. They looked fine. 2 cows were up by the top trough, on problems there either. Elinor had just been drinking and I could hear the trough re-filling. Bottom trough full too.

Tuesday 10th December

Dark day on the Hill with the wind whipping over the hill making it feel blooming freezing! Eleanor and Dilly were by the western trough, and looked pretty relaxed about the whole thing. Eleanor's right eye-lid was looking a bit crusty but nothing to cause any issues and Dilly's face and head was covered in mud and dirt! It looked like she'd stuck her head in a pile of mud. As I walked on looking for the ponies I spotted the offending pile of mud. Looks like she'd been rubbing her head against a low bank a little way up the path! Scratching or feeding? Do cows need scratching posts??

The ponies were at the top end of the site, mostly huddled down together, with Kat overseeing them. Flam looked really tired and not with it, which is unlike her, so something to keep an eye on. Doune was sticking pretty close to her, and she is very protective. Other than that no obvious issues other than looking really chilly.

Monday 9 December

 The 4 ponies were gathered at the top gate and seemed oblivious to the cold wind. The 2 cows were between the path and the road near the top. Both troughs were full. Nothing else to report. 

Sunday 8th Dec

 A cold northerly making its’ presence felt today. So much so I had trouble with my counting! The TWO cows were up at the top end alongside Morestead Rd …again. I looked and looked but couldn’t find the third one!! Thanks Fi for putting me right!

Ponies were altogether on the main (getting very muddy) main track towards the top end and looking fine.

Saturday 7th December

Breezy day on the Hill, but seemed to be subsiding when I arrived, or maybe just a bit more sheltered. Found the ponies about 100 metres up the main path, sheltering as best they could. They looked well, just slightly bedraggled and windswept.

The cows were a bit further up the path, in amongst some trees, munching and sheltering. Again looked well. 

Flam sporting a windswept barnet

Fri 6th Dec

Thought we may see the ponies on our work party today, but it's so slidy along the bottom track I don;t blame them for staying up the top! Saw Dilly (sorry of I said Dolly!) and Eleanor at the end of the day, both looking very fine and Dilly's eye had cleared up. Very end of the day saw all the ponies together at the eastern end of the site. They are all looking in fine fettle. Hoopy is looking very shaggy and had clearly been having fun rolling in mud recently.

Thursday 5th Dec

 Very wet after overnight rain; not just muddy but quite slippery in places - beware!

The 4 ponies were towards the eastern end of the top path, and just between the path and the road, grazing.  They looked a bit bedraggled, but unbowed.  

The cattle were invisible from the main path, lying down and staring into space about 300m along from the M'way entrance and close to the Morestead Rd fence.

They were both fine, but Dolly's left eye looked a bit watery:

Troughs were OK.

A song thrush was having an attempt at singing, and there was a nice pair of stonechats.  The solstice beckons.

Weds 4th

 4 ponies were quite near the bottom trough, all looked fine. 2 cows were just off the path near the top, cudding, looked fine. Bottom trough full, top one down a bit.

Tuesday 3rd December

Pleasant day on the Hill, and the ponies were lined up and waiting for me by the corral when I arrived. Flam and Kat tussled over my attention, or maybe it was my hat they were after. Hoopy is looking really shaggy, but really warm and cosy. Doune kept a watching distance. But all looking really great. 

The cows took a little more finding, but eventually spotted them up by the road fence. As I approached the big black/white one (Dolly?), decided to want to use the path too, so I figured discretion was the better part of valour and back-peddled quickly. But they both looked good and were intently munching away.

Large flock of Black-headed Gulls on the main lake, and Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Wigeon and possibly a Teal on the smaller one. 

Sunday 1st December

 A wet, muddy morning on the hill today. The ponies were gathered in the corral looking rather miserable.

The two cows were up at the top of the track alongside the road.

Saturday 30th November

Mild but overcast day on the Hill, registering a balmy 16 degrees on the car thermometer! Spotted the cows from the main gate, but went off in search of the ponies first. I figured the cows were less likely to move. No sign of them on lower path, and no attempts to knock over the fire defences. Slogged back up the hill, then off to the top gate, again no sign, so tried the middle path. At this point I was back with the cows and who should be behind them up the road fences than the ponies. The cows were okay, very calm and relaxed and alert. The ponies were grazing by the barbed wire fence. First stop Hoopy, whose coat is looking lovely and warm and shaggy. The rest of the gang were further up the road and not easily accessible without disturbing them so watched from a distance. They were moving and eating freely and generally in great condition. 

Thursday 28th November

 Sunny and frosty this morning.  Dolly and Eleanor were grazing close to the path, a few metres up from M'way gate (within their confined area) and seemingly happy.  All 4 ponies were close to the far trough, enjoying a bit of morning sun, and also grazing, interrupted by a brief check of who I was.  Ice broken on both troughs.

Good to see a flock of about 50 lapwings down on the field east of the 'lake', below the reserve.

Wednesday 27th

 4 ponies were near the path about 400 yards up, fairly close together. All looking well. The cows were nearby cudding, in the bushes towards the Moorstead Rd. No visible problems. Both water troughs were full and the fence round the blue bowser was intact.

Tues 26th end of day

I popped in to check on the water supply for the cattle and the sheep hurdle fence around the bowser at the eastern end. I was fearing it would have been pulled apart by the ponies, although we did wgat we could with cable ties on Friday! First off there is loads of water in the bottom IBC - about 2000 litres I think, so that is fine! I was concerned about why the cattle hadn't fully explored yet, and then I found a random green electric fence stake halfway up the track that wasn't marking the edge of their compartment- they had explored up to that point but no further. I have removed this and hope they will pluck up the courage to go beyond it now as they still have a lot more of the site available to them. Thankfully the hurdle fence around the bowser was fine, but I have added some road pins to help keep it together. Saw the cattle looking very content, and Hoopy and Doune, but I didn't look for Kat and Flam as it was getting dark and I knew they had all been checked by Ian today..

Tuesday 26th November

Bright and chilly lunchtime on the Hill, beautiful day. Found the cows where I left them (😀) on Saturday, close to the lower trough. But there was evidence that had explored a bit, if you know what I mean. They looked pretty happy soaking up the rays and chewing the cud. 

Next stop, hunt the ponies, and they were to be found three quarters of the way up the main path, albeit a little spread out. Hoopy was a little away from the others, in the lower part of the clearing, but at least in the sunshine. She tried to hobble up the hill towards me, when she spotted me, still getting used to the terrain I guess. She was pretty friendly and a little cheeky too. But they all looked in good nick, with Flam's coat looking and feeling more like a blanket. 

I'm sorry I forgot to check out the fence around the new bowser at the top of the site. Based on previous pony escapades, I worry for it 😂.

Saturday 23rd November

The cows were near the trough at the lower end of the site, and seemed to be testing the limits of their boundary. They seemed okay, just a little cheesed off with the weather. 

Then tried to locate the ponies, they weren't in the middle section and no evidence of them along the lower path. Headed back up the hill and onto the top gate. No damage to bowser fence, but again no foot prints, so doesn't look like they've investigated yet. Resorted to tracking recent hoof prints and poop, and followed Hoopy's occasion slide down the hill and across and along the middle path. And aha found them, in the middle section that I had already checked. We must have passed on our respective journeys. But I was impressed with my tracking skills, but at this point was totally exhausted. Wind, rain and slippery muddy ground. Not as much fun as in the middle of July! Oh yeah and they were fine, just a bit wet, just like me. 

 

cattle compartment

Cattle compartment stretches length of site - access to both troughs. Marked out by mostly yellow stakes...

cattle are here!!

Spent a while with the volunteers setting up a big compartment for the cattle Dolly and Eleanor today.  Cattle were delivered end of the day. Hoping the ponies won't interfere with the sheep hurdles we've set up around the big bowser at the eastern end too.  Ponies were friendly today and are all looking great. Kat seems to have put on a decent amount of weight over the summer too..

cattle arriving today

We have 2 cattle arriving today - Dolly (mostly black) and Eleanor. You'll remember them from last year:) we are setting out a compartment that stretches across the top of the site.  

Please remember to break any ice in the troughs in this cold weather folks.

Thanks so much!

Thursday 21st November

 I'm dreaming of a white...but it didn't last, after quite a flurry of snow earlier.  The 4 ponies were looking quite bored, but lined up for a photo opportunity:

Otherwise, they were all fine - and up by the far gate.  Troughs well frozen but I broke the ice on both.

Wednesday 20th

 4 ponies were near the main path towards the top, fairly spread out. They all looked well. Both troughs full. Flicked some ice off.

Tuesday 19th November

The car thermometer said 3 degrees, so a CNS day (Cold Nose Syndrome), but luckily the rain had eased off. The ponies were neither at the corral nor at the top gate, so a little trek to find them, but in the end they were along the main path not far from the middle Beech clump. They all looked a bit, well a lot, wet through, but didn't seem to stop them munching away. Other than the matted coats they all looked well, Doune was a little jumpy, but I was wearing a different hat.