[Glentarki]

We had our first visit from the local Red Squirrel population today, apparently they are abundant within the forestry that adjoins our house but we have never seen them apart from road kills………….I was like a big kid when I spotted one, then two then three in our monkey puzzle tree around 8pm tonight was like seeing santa!…..Now that probably sounds a bit twee to some but I have a big soft spot for them, think it's a child hood thing when they used to visit my parents kitchen and had their own bowl filled with tit bits.

We watched the three of them for ages until they came down, they ran across the lawn and trotted up the drive passing our front gate and into the Wood's.I suspect they may have been here before!

Do any of you knowledgeable folk out there have any tips on encouraging them into the garden…..We intend to build bird feeding stations for the coming winter but apparently you can make feeders just for squirrels with a lifting lid anyone used or hear of one?…..What treats are they partial too?….We have managed to keep a pine martin visiting since new year with regular treats of strawberry jam and peanut butter better fed than me



Thanks in advance
Dave

[SallyintNorth]

We have tufties hereabouts but also 'tree rats' as many tufty-lovers call the greys ... any treats would probably attract more greys than reds so I can't advise I'm afraid.

I answered your post because I would be beside myself if I so much as glimpsed a pine marten, I am so envious of you having a regularly visiting one - pictures please!

[HappyHippy]

I don't have any hints or tips since we're infested with the "tree rats" 
But I just wanted to tell you how jealous I am 
I remember seeing red squirrels as a kid and love them ! I'd have been jumping up and down like a big kid too  (Just like I did when I saw the Bullfinches)
Lucky you & try to get a photo ! (and one of the piggies  )
Karen 

[ellied]

Pitmedden is abundant with reds, I've seen them many a time and they will visit you regardless so whatever you're doing is clearly enough - trying too hard can bring in other less popular visitors in my experience and just watch if you have cats that you don't entice the squirrels in to be too confident

There was a pinemarten at a place in the Trossachs I go regularly and it used to sit inside the roofed bird table - much to the amusement of visitors and the frustration of both local birds and cats   You could watch him from 20' but closer than that and he'd leave..

[Rosemary]

Oh, lucky you. They are lovely. Best thing you can do is shoot / trap the tree rats.

[HappyHippy]

Pitmedden is abundant with reds, I've seen them many a time and they will visit you regardless

Pitmedden near Ellon ?
I lived in Bonnyton Road there (2nd cottage) many years ago before I got married - I don't recall seeing any squirrels  but we didn't have much 'tree coverage' in our garden and a pretty noisy dog, maybe they were shy 
Karen 

[jaykay]

Hi, we have red squirrels here (and people shoot any encroaching greys to keep it that way)

You can get squirrel feeders which you fill with hazelnuts, to keep them coming  We got ours from our local Red Squirrel group.

These people have more info.

UK Red Squirrel group

[doganjo]

Pitmedden is abundant with reds, I've seen them many a time and they will visit you regardless

Pitmedden near Ellon ?
I lived in Bonnyton Road there (2nd cottage) many years ago before I got married - I don't recall seeing any squirrels  but we didn't have much 'tree coverage' in our garden and a pretty noisy dog, maybe they were shy 
Karen 

I lived near Ellon for 5 years, up by Overton Garage, there were reds up in the woods up the hill from us.  I think there is a colony in Pitmedden Gardens, used to be anyway. When we moved to the other side of Aberdeen we saw some at Pitcaple.  Load of the 'other' sort too unfortunately. I've never seen a Pinemarten I don't think.

[ellied]

Nope, Pitmedden Forest in north Fife - I had my 20 acre leased field in the Glassart Glen up the middle of this horseshoe forest and walked, rode and drove through it repeatedly for 9 years until I lost the lease 5 months ago..  The red squirrels were abundant all through the forest and I often saw them other than if I went at "dogwalking times" which I tended to avoid anyway if possible

Glentarkie is at the far end of the same forest so I was saying I'm not surprised they have reds visiting as the local population is quite extensive..

[AengusOg]

There used to be lots of red squirrels at my workplace, but we haven't seen one for ages. The greys moved in some months ago. Traps set last week caught eight greys in a few days.