Blackbird
The blackbird has the nearest song to what we would call a real tune. Some people say it sounds like a flute.
Chiff Chaff
This bird (which winters in Africa!) is a small olive-brown warbler which flits through trees and shrubs. You’ll hear it singing a random mix of “chiff“ and “chaff”.
Collared Dove
Collared doves are smaller and more delicate-looking than wood pigeons, with creamy grey-buff plumage. Listen for their three-note call – “cu-coo-cu”.
Great Tit
The largest UK tit, it’s green and yellow with a glossy black head with white cheeks. This bird sounds like it’s at school, because it keeps singing “tea-cher, tea-cher”.
Robin
Famous for their friendliness, the robin can whistle higher than we can. Its whistling song rises at the end, as if it was asking a question.
Wood Pigeon
Our largest pigeon, they tend to waddle! Their call is easily confused with that of the collared dove, but it always has five notes – “cu coo cu, cu-cu”.
What child doesn’t love to collect handfuls of glossy brown conkers? At Sompting Abbotts, they don't just fill their pockets — even socks become makeshift pouches. And so, at this time of the year, we send the children out into our school grounds to look for shiny conkers (not that they need any persuading).