Spink

The Chaffinches ‘‘spinked” as though its presence was not required, but it seemed to be feeding on insects only.

The Linnet called “ Chivvey ” can tweet and spink and song-sing, and is full of clicks and jars, like the other.

Woodpig was rootling for worms up the brook when he was surprised to see Chaffinch, "spinking" at him from a hazel twig.

And his voice sounded good, too, and loud and clear, and he put two of his fingers into his mouth and whistled, a piercing, high-pitched scream of a whistle, and there was a sudden silence as though the noise had penetrated the brain of all things and stunned movement; but in a second the spinking blackbird began again his yittering, and all were at song again.

The cry of this species, which consists of a number of rapidly ‘‘spinking” notes, reminds me of that of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the United States.

6 DECEMBER The winter sun is a flat blade of white on the horizon. Blackbirds are spinking, a charmless sound, done by rote.

Somewhere in the five gardens, a blackbird spinked, petulantly.