A jogger was left with nasty scratches across his scalp after being attacked by a buzzard during a run.
Andy Llewellyn, 44, was doing his usual run in Chellaston, Derby, when the bird of prey swooped on him and dragged its talons across his head.
“I was just jogging along and without any warning whatsoever I got an almighty smack on the head,” Mr Llewellyn said. “I had no idea what it was at the time — I thought somebody had jumped out at me or something.
“But I heard the flapping of the bird’s wings and I later realised what had happened.”
Mr Llewellyn said that he had not realised how bad his injuries were until he finished his run.
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He added: “It’s made me think a little bit more about the route I take . . . The ironic thing after the attack is that I did make my fastest time.”
The RSPB said that such attacks were rare. A spokesman said: “While clearly a distressing incident for the person involved, this is not usual behaviour.
“The jogger was in all probability running close to a nest, and as we are coming to the end of the breeding season when chicks are starting to fledge, the reaction of the bird was one of a protective parent.”