As our heatwave continues, another hot walk across the open plain in the New Forest: a 4-mile round trip to Whitten Pond.

Cows drink 60 to 120 litres of water a day. Some of the ponds dry out in the summer, but Forestry England says there are up to 1000 ponds in the New Forest.

As we walked over Holmsley Ridge, Whitten Pond came into view, and a large herd of cows was also heading to the water. We arrived about the same time.

Ring Plover, which I am more used to seeing on the coast, were at the pond, and a small family were around the edge. They are one of our coastal birds that will breed inland.

A juvenile Pied Wagtail.

Stonechat {Male}.