Hopefully, this blog will provide a great way of feeding back information about the grazing herd at Castle Bottom. We, the Rangers, will post updates here about the movements of the herd, when they are to be brought on and off the site, as well as posting when and where we have seen them, and commenting on their health and behaviour. I hope that this will be a useful tool – a place where we can share information, follow the whereabouts of the cattle, and inform each other of how they are doing on the site.
I will be updating very soon with further information about the grazing herd and how they benefit the wildlife on the Reserve, along with rough dates for when the grazier will be coming to take them off the site for the winter. Until then, if you want to find out more, please get in touch or visit our website at www3.hants.gov.uk/countryside/castle-bottom.htm
Please use this blog to post updates on when and where you have seen the cattle, whether or not they seem to be happy and healthy, and any other comments that you feel might be useful to share!
As for myself, despite spending 2 hours roaming the whole of the Reserve today (in beautiful sunshine I might add, not a bad way to spend a Saturday!), I could not find any of the cattle, which are blending in very well at the moment with all the amber heather. As such, I shall be out again in the morning to try to find them!
Happy Looking!
Ranger Nat
Ranger Nat
Well, I'm certainly getting my exercise this weekend... after roaming the whole site again I finally spotted 6 cows, grazing and hiding well in the trees near the corral. They seem to be moving around the site fairly quickly at the moment, perhaps a sign that the amount of grazing is starting to get low. The 6 cows I saw looked healthy though, and don't seem to have lost any weight. Thank you to Yvonne, who checked all 7 of them yesterday!
ReplyDeleteAll 7 cows were seen on Monday afternoon. They were on the right hand side along the fence line near the entrance from Coopers Hill -In the area where we have been clearing and burning the scrub. They all looked healthy ans happy!
ReplyDeleteThis sunday the cows were illusive, eventually i found them towards the back of the site tucked down in the willow that grows along the stream. With their winter coats they really blend in now and unless they move they are hard to spot.
ReplyDeleteAll seam happy although they are dispersed more due to the fact that grazing is harder to find.
Ian Stoneman, Senior Ranger.
Hi Rangers Love the Blog and the great main photo I am in Toronto for a week but back in time to check the cows on Sat 29th (before they are moved) so hope all is well with them and that the weather has been good PS I am Moose and Beaver spotting instead. Best wishes Yvonne
ReplyDeleteHi Rangers,
ReplyDeleteBit unused to writing in a blog, so here goes...
Saw the cows for the last time this year on Tuesday so am happy for them but sad anyway!
They were standing by the gate with their bags packed ready for the off!
Thanks for letting Elaine and I do the cattle watching this year. Sue didn't contribute though, but she may next year.
See you again next year!
Hi Everybody
ReplyDeleteWe found the Cows at the corral today and they all look happy and healthy. They were munching on the last bit of braken that is left there but I think they were waiting there on the hope of more hay.
Hi back from Canada and this pm Andrew +I went to see the cattle. Very easy to find as we walked up from the water bridge one called out and we followed him +another to the rest of the herd. All happily grazing and we spent over an hour up there taking photos and watching the cattle as they speedily move across the land and are camouflaged easily. Castle Bottom looks as good as Canada in the Fall! Good luck with the move and we will miss them. Yvonne
ReplyDeletemonday 31 october all cattle found near corral.looking good no problems.let me know when they are being mooved i might be able to help if needed john
ReplyDeletejohn. november 4th 4pm
ReplyDeleteall cattle found in birch thicket along welsh drive!very difficult to spot.they were all munching away happily.there seemed to be no problems.
sun nov 6th 1pm.all found resting quitely on hill overlooking stream.no problems.having a sunday siesta.seems like a good idea!
ReplyDelete