I took my Mavic Air on a trip to Liberia. We pulled over to film this sunrise. Making sure I was well above the trees, I began flying towards the sun. I noticed my sensors picking something up and I was certain it wasn't a tree. I spun the drone around just in time to capture an image of this eagle, swooping at my drone. I didn't want to pester it anymore and lose my drone at the same time, so I flew it back to the road. The eagle chased it most of the way. If anyone can tell me what kind of eagle this is, that would be great. It was shot in Bong County, Liberia.

Eagle vs. Mavic Air

Cool shot!      

A CW Posted at 2018-3-2 10:11
Cool shot!

Thank you!

Skookumtim Posted at 2018-3-2 10:20
Thank you!

You're welcome!

Good luck on the escape

Nice

Good and lucky. Eagle attack drone?

Nice shot and lucky escape. Bet trying to land while being chased by an eagle added a certain element of “fun” ;)

yeh - cool shot

Fantastic picture, what a lucky shot! I shall consult with a colleague who is ornithologist and report back on the species.

Great Shot!

Cracking shot! I have two white tailed sea eagles at my flying field, but fortunately they leave my machines alone. Oystercatchers near my home are another matter

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-3-2 13:31
Fantastic picture, what a lucky shot! I shall consult with a colleague who is ornithologist and report back on the species.

Looking forward to what he says.

astrofly Posted at 2018-3-2 13:08
Good and lucky. Eagle attack drone?

It just chased it away.

A fantastic shot and lucky escape.

Skookumtim Posted at 2018-3-2 14:14
Looking forward to what he says.

I have sent him the question already and shall let you know his response.

Nice shot.

Amazing shot.... he has eyes for you!

That is an amazing picture... truly incredible. Glad you made it out with your drone in tact.

And this obviously isn't what happened, but this pic made me think of this-
https://www.popsci.com/eagles-attack-drones-at-police-command

Something I read:  Birds don't fly straight up very well. So, if you feel threatened, just push that altitude stick forward.

Must have had a nest close. Cool Shot.

Wow... The picture look amazing!

Great shot, thanks for posting!

Hi, I had almost forgotten to follow up on this one. My colleague (a professional bird expert) has responded last week that your bird was an African Harrier-hawk (aka Gymnogene) (Polyboroides typus).

Great shot, and glad your drone was safe.

Very cool! Did your Mavic have a Pig costume on? Angry Birds in real life. I wonder what its special ability is...

Awesome pic! Lucky too!

Wow!! amazing SHOT!

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-3-12 04:51
Hi, I had almost forgotten to follow up on this one. My colleague (a professional bird expert) has responded last week that your bird was an African Harrier-hawk (aka Gymnogene) (Polyboroides typus).

Wonderful!  Thank you.

Skookumtim Posted at 2018-3-16 12:39
Wonderful!  Thank you.

You are most welcome! :-) My colleague also told me that you have been lucky to escape since this species is known to be very agressive. In a direct contact the hawk would most likely have been the winner. Thus we all can be happy that neither the hawk nor your bird were harmed in this close encounter of a very special kind. And what a lucky footage shot you had!
Edit: You should definitely post your picture in this ongoing competition: https://forum.dji.com/thread-138888-1-1.html

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-3-16 13:03
You are most welcome! :-) My colleague also told me that you have been lucky to escape since this species is known to be very agressive. In a direct contact the hawk would most likely have been the winner. Thus we all can be happy that neither the hawk nor your bird were harmed in this close encounter of a very special kind. And what a lucky footage shot you had!
Edit: You should definitely post your picture in this ongoing competition: https://forum.dji.com/thread-138888-1-1.html

Done! Thanks for the recommendation.

Skookumtim Posted at 2018-3-16 13:19
Done! Thanks for the recommendation.

Great, I'll vote for it :-)

I agree this photo should be entered into the competition, but I'm going to disagree with the esteemed birding expert. The Hawk Harrier in Africa is a uniform drab grey, lacking the lighter upper wing tips and the light coloured head and neck, as the raptor in the photo seems to display. I'm going to go with a stroppy juvenile fish eagle, not uncommon along stretches of the St Paul River.  

Dorset_Horn Posted at 2018-3-16 13:33
I agree this photo should be entered into the competition, but I'm going to disagree with the esteemed birding expert. The Hawk Harrier in Africa is a uniform drab grey, lacking the lighter upper wing tips and the light coloured head and neck, as the raptor in the photo seems to display. I'm going to go with a stroppy juvenile fish eagle, not uncommon along stretches of the St Paul River.

Hi, thanks for your informed feedback! I'll share it with my colleague and if you wish so, I bring you two in touch.

Very cool shot.  Yeah you are very lucky your drone escaped unharmed.  There are many drones that have been taken out by birds.  

I wasn't so lucky to escape, Black Eagle attacked my Mavic Pro
https://youtu.be/S3wzVpEfWfc