An Aberdeen woman was left bleeding from a nasty head wound after being attacked by a bird of prey while jogging near her home.
Chloe Burns ended up with talon marks on the top of her head following the incident on Monday morning.
The 30-year-old who lives in Dyce had went for a run around the nearby Kirkhill Forest.
On her way back, she said one of two buzzards, which she had spotted circling earlier, swooped down to strike.
Mrs Burns said she’d first hid from the bird and then ran for home, all the while watching out for further attacks.
“I didn’t see anything until I felt something touch my head,” she said.
“The bird left a big scratch and I had blood streaming down my face.
“I managed to hide in some bushes at the side of the road and waited for a minute before I ran home.
“As the bird was behind me, I had to keep looking back. It swooped about six times but I was only struck by it once.”
There have been other reports of attacks by birds of prey in the area.
Last year a cyclist was left “covered in blood” after a 20-minute assault from an unknown bird near the Dyce Juniors football pitch.
Keith Marley, of the New Arc wildlife rescue centre, said it is currently fledgling season for buzzards.
And with youngsters around, it may be that mums and dads are simply being overprotective.
Mr Marley said: “We have quite a few chicks in our care right now ourselves.
“We know of one buzzard around Fintray that was attacking people last year.
“Perhaps it has changed location as we’ve not heard much about it in the past couple of weeks.
“It’s very possible that a lot of young buzzards are on the ground now and out of their nests, so mothers could be a little bit over-protective at the moment.
“If anyone sees a grounded chick I would ask them to call ourselves or their local wildlife rescue, as if a young buzzard is grounded it will need help.
“If it’s in an area that the public go through, then a dog could easily get at them and their mum and dad will be very defensive.”
Having run home following the attack in Aberdeen, Mrs Burns phoned her doctor who told her to use an antiseptic cream on the wound.
Other than the scratch on her head she is “fine”, but concerned the birds could target someone else and cause a more serious or lasting injury.
“I saw young families in the area at the weekend and I’d hate for other people to go there and get a fright as well,” she said.
“If it was a family or some kids they attacked instead of me, that could have been an eyeball.
“I’ve read about people seeing birds of prey and complaining about them swooping.
“It’s scary, but that’s nature I guess.”