The White-browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola) is aiming for its future “bathtub” in low flight. A little later, the drops will splash for several meters. The White-browed Fantail had already bathed extensively in the shallow fountain a few minutes before. The feathers are soaked with water. The White-browed Fantail is obviously not afraid of water. Proper cooling is also important in the south of Sri Lanka. Birds should also try to keep a cool head and, on the occasion, get-riff of roommates living on their feathers. First the White-browed Fantail comes on the ceramic rim, secures and sips from the water in the bowl. The cool water feels good. Then the bird stands in the middle of the flat pool area. The water goes up to the belly of the standing bird. Then it’s time to plunge ist head, fling the water in a rotary motion and wait until the water drops come down again. Then fly up again with your wet feathers on ist stomach and spread the water drops in the area. Done!
For birds, cleaning and maintaining the plumage is an important hygiene measure and necessary preventive health care. The white-browed fantail, for example, uses extensive water and dust baths to rid its more than 1000 feathers of parasites such as ticks, mites and fleas. He whirls the water around. With a little luck, you might even see the white-browed fantail sand-bathing.
The White-browed Fantail is a close relative of the popular Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) of Australia.
A nice place to see the White-browed Fantail is the Brief Garden near Bentota in the southwest of Sri Lanka. Allegedly, 106 different tree species are distributed on the 8 hectare site. The number of birds that can be seen in the gardens is impressive. After about half an hour’s drive, the ornamental garden is reached from the coast. We found the garden to be pleasant from the temperature point of view. It is a place that exudes calm. One can see that the architect built the garden in harmony with nature. It is designed with great attention to detail. If you walk through the entrance to the garden, you enter a small cosmos full of small ponds, winding paths, hidden arbors. You are surrounded by lots of tropical plants, between which sculptures are placed. When you arrive you stand in front of a brightly painted portal, which is surrounded by lush greenery. There are just 4 cars in the small parking lot. A wrought iron grille holds a bell ready. The White-browed Fantail and its companions can be admired in a magical world.
To cope with the growing demand for top shots of the rarer species of the Palearctic Bird-Lens is keen to enrich the range of pictures of birds you can find in the western palearctic and beyond. Trips to remote places like this one to capture images not only of rare birds of western palearctic were very successful. The nice image of the blog is only a first impression, what you will find in the gallery in the “Picture Shop” very soon. Just give bird-lens.com a message, if bird-lens.com could serve you with an image needed before the new pictures are online.