Poppity - they will be so hungry they might be tempted now.
TeddyBare - we usually just have fat balls, and feeders with different seeds in. At the moment I think they are grateful for anything they can get, and scraps are great. And I would think that seeds on a plate is definitely better than no seeds at all, and well worth a try. As far as I know bringing food in at night shouldn't confuse things.
spookycharlotte - is there a bit of path you could clear or flatten out so the food doesn't sink?
Suggestions from the RSPB site:
Home-made devices
Half coconuts and tit bells filled with fat, bird cake, etc can be hung from your bird table, a tree or from a bracket on a wall. They will attract greenfinches, house sparrows and tits.
Other ideas
Fill the holes and cracks of a post or suspended log with fatty food, such as suet, for agile birds, such as tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers, treecreepers and even wrens.
Thrushes and dunnocks prefer to feed on the ground. For these birds, scatter food on the lawn or use a ground feeding tray or hopper well clear of cover to avoid lurking cats. Remember to change the area you scatter the food over every few days, and never put out more than is eaten the same day to avoid attracting vermin.
If you put food such as apples and bread on the ground, space it out in different places in the garden. This will reduce competition between birds so that more birds can feed at any one time. If there is snow on the ground, clear small areas before putting down the food.
Hope that helps!