GOLFERS practising their putting in Frodsham are being joined by dozens of fluffy feathered friends.

As spring saw flowers blossom across the 18-hole course, the sound of glorious bird song has filled the air above Frodsham Golf Club.

Mysteriously known as The Birdman of Frodsham, for two years one golfer has been putting up bird boxes and filling up feeding stations.

Unmasked by the Chronicle as grandfather-of-two Barry Shaw, the golfer revealed that he has been building the boxes in his Vicars Cross home and putting them up during his weekly round of golf.

Using pieces of scrap wood collected from skips and timber yards, the 66-year-old has made more than 30 bird boxes which are attracting dozens of blue tits to the course.

And after their weekly rounds, the golfers can watch birds building their nests after Barry wired up a camera on to the club house TV.

“I think the most rewarding moment was when I put a camera in there to get everyone interested. When they were just around the course, not many people took any interest. It was just a bird box.

“Everyone in the club has now taken an interest, it would be lovely if the birds now started laying some eggs.

“I don’t claim to be an expert in birds, but when you are retired you start to notice things and appreciate nature more. It gives you chance to look around at the world more.”

Barry, who has been a member of the club since it opened about 20 years ago, started building the bird boxes out of scrap wood in his garage soon after he retired from working as an engineer at Mersey Weigh in Ellesmere Port.

Barry says he was helped to fill the course with boxes by his golfing friends who lent their skills to hang, hammer and dig the boxes and feeders into the trees and lawns.

“Last year we cleaned them out, and it was great to see that at least 25 had nesting materials in them.

“It has been lovely to watch them coming and going. I think that everyone at the club is quietly pleased, they are all starting to show some interest now we can see inside the box.”

For now Barry says he has no more plans to make any more boxes in Frodsham, saying that one resident complained that he was stealing all of the birds from the town.

He added: “I don’t know where we could put any more.”