Red squirrels in the garden

To my great delight, 2 or 3 red squirrels have recently started feeding regularly on the peanut feeder that I put out for the birds. So thrilled am I, that I've bought a squirrel feeder to encourage them. Up to 3 spotted woodpeckers have also taken to feeding at the same "table". The pleasures of watching them are simply indescribable and also makes me doubt the perceived wisdom of only feeding the birds during the winter season. I have always fed them throughout the year and have hardly any trouble with caterpillars on the brassicas.

What good news you have given us, we also feed the birds all the year
since our arrival in July 2007 we have only seen one red squirrel..
keep up the good work

Our red squirrels feed all year round, they also steal the cake that I put out for the birds.

Hi Inkflo & Lady of Leisure
I found this site which is informative and enables you to log your sightings

http://ecureuils.mnhn.fr/

Thanks, I'll do that.

Are they as destructive as the grey variety? We had to give up feeding the birds in the UK because the greys wrecked everything, including the special squirrel feeding box we got for them (basically, they ate it along with the nuts in it!)
Here in the Creuse we have been feeing the birds for a couple of years now, and this year the woodpeckers, bull finches and sparrows have been bringing their offspring to feed.

Hi twointheeye
Quite the opposite. The red squirrels are such beautiful, gentle creatures and seem to co-exist with the birds without any difficulty. If you can attract them (and I hope you do) you will not regret it for a moment