The home Ive moved to has a back garden which faces on to a narrow strip of mature woodland with squirrels etc. I noticed we never got any birds in our garden so I bought a Gardman Shepherds hook thingy and have hung a seed feeder, a nut feeder and a fat ball from it. So far Ive only had one customer, a little Robin, and he doesnt stay very long.

Ive also purchased a squirrel feeder which I will be mounting onto the fence, and Ive thought of getting a nesting box for Christmas. I dont know how to persuade them to come though. The previous occupants and my neighbours dont take much interest in their gardens and just see it as somewhere to keep the dog.

Any other ideas how to entice birds and squirrels?

>>you could put a bird bath in

>>and if you ever cook meat with lots of fat - save the fat and combine it with bird seed - put it in a coconut and hang it out - the birds love it!!

il try think of some more things for you!

We have a bird table and i hang fat balls on my fence, i also put bird seed from the budgies cage out for birds and recently a tiny little black and white bird has been visiting. God knows what kind it is but it isnt shy at all.

Yellowrose i don't think you will have any problem attracting squirrels. They will eat most free offerings. The problem will be how to stop them eating everything, they will dig up plants and bulbs and dig holes in the ground. Nice animals to watch though if you like that sort of thing.

Another animal that you probably have, even if you don't see them, are hedgehogs. Have you thought about finding somewhere that you can watch your garden at night from, and watching the paths they follow so you can put some cat food out for them?

Jabberwocky, from the description the bird sounds like a Pied Wagtail .

Jabberwocky, from the description the bird sounds like a Pied Wagtail .
Its tail is always bobbing as it eats and moves around. Its getting to be quite cheeky- if i walk along the garden it gets in front of me and hops along just inches in front of me.

Pied wagtail? Ill check online.

Yup- definitely sounds like a wagtail to me Jabber.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/p/piedwagtail/index.asp

Thats the one! thanks for that! Its a lovely little fellow.

try planting certain plants to attract wildlife as well ie- hawthorn, firethorn, blackberry, etc

To cold for hedgehogs this time of the year medusa, they should all be in hibernation until spring.

I understand that hedgehogs hibernate- some of them aren't hibernating too well this year though. My local group are still up and about on nice days- they're in an adjoining garden.

I understand that hedgehogs hibernate- some of them aren't hibernating too well this year though. My local group are still up and about on nice days- they're in an adjoining garden.
Thought you might say that medusa, it's surprising what changes are happening to wildlife. Lots of flowers still in bloom cultivated and wild ones, and just three weeks of Christmas.

try planting certain plants to attract wildlife as well ie- hawthorn, firethorn, blackberry, etc
Ive planted some firethorn. Ive also planted apple, cherry and rowan trees in the back and a crab apple in the front which will attract wildlife I understand.

BTW its quite a small garden with a high fence on one side and on the bottom. I have a peek out at night but cant see much because its dark of course! I could sit next to my french doors in the dining area to watch.

I suppose I just want the word to get round the local bird and squirrel population so we can see some action! When Im washing up I can see the squirrels in the trees in the woodland bit, about 20 yards away. I dont mind the squirrels coming in and I will give them their own feeder with nuts. What sort of plants do they dig up?

Another animal that you probably have, even if you don't see them, are hedgehogs. Have you thought about finding somewhere that you can watch your garden at night from, and watching the paths they follow so you can put some cat food out for them?
There was a hedge hog on our garden last night,
I gave it some cat food and some water, which it ate, just wondered if they should be still out,
and should you just leave them, I wanted to find it a nice cosy box and put it in the shed, but my oh said knowing me when spring came,
I'd want to keep it and not let it go again.

They usually work it all out for themselves- and the group that are in my neighbour's garden also sleep and hibernate in a family group together, so I'm sure that the other hedgehogs would be missing it if you put it in a box somewhere.

You've done the best thing you can to make sure that the hedgie makes it through the winter- filling his/her tummy with something nutritious.

Thanks Medusa, and its realy cold at the mo, so I'll go
and fill the dish up again, I hope its got a family group, didn't realise they did that, but we've got a big pile of leaves in the garden maybe they are using them.

Ive planted some firethorn. Ive also planted apple, cherry and rowan trees in the back and a crab apple in the front which will attract wildlife I understand.

BTW its quite a small garden with a high fence on one side and on the bottom. I have a peek out at night but cant see much because its dark of course! I could sit next to my french doors in the dining area to watch.

I suppose I just want the word to get round the local bird and squirrel population so we can see some action! When Im washing up I can see the squirrels in the trees in the woodland bit, about 20 yards away. I dont mind the squirrels coming in and I will give them their own feeder with nuts. What sort of plants do they dig up?

in spring i would plant some teasel, comlumbine and lots of different grasses - ther'l attract insects and butterflys in the summer and and they eat the seeds in the autumn....
....fact if you have space a wild grass area would be good birds tend 2 like wild stuff....
maybe a holly bush beacuse spiders love making thier webs in it and blue tits love 2 find mini spiders in the nooks and crannys :thumbsup:

The home Ive moved to has a back garden which faces on to a narrow strip of mature woodland with squirrels etc. I noticed we never got any birds in our garden so I bought a Gardman Shepherds hook thingy and have hung a seed feeder, a nut feeder and a fat ball from it. So far Ive only had one customer, a little Robin, and he doesnt stay very long.

Ive also purchased a squirrel feeder which I will be mounting onto the fence, and Ive thought of getting a nesting box for Christmas. I dont know how to persuade them to come though. The previous occupants and my neighbours dont take much interest in their gardens and just see it as somewhere to keep the dog.

Any other ideas how to entice birds and squirrels?

Feed And Water them and they will come.

I live on the edge of woodland and I usually get lots of birds, Tits, all types, Woodpeckers several times a day, Sparrowhawk, catches birds while they are feeding on nuts. Jays, Wrens, Robins ,Pheasants, Red Leg Partridge, Collared Doves etc etc. But no squirrels.

But nothing for quite a few weeks now, according to the RSPB, due to the mild autumn / winter, there is lots of natural food about in the woodland so they are not visiting gradens as much. Should be back when the frosty weatrher starts.

Here is a short video I took. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnopCNpNEpU