I was running on the trails in Presqu'ile Provincial Park, which is one of my main running routes. As I was going along, out of the corner of my eye I spotted something buzz really close by my left ear. I figured it was a deer fly beside my head, so I swatted at it and kept going. After another couple of seconds I saw something out of the corner of my eye again, so I quickly turned my head, but nothing was there. It's worth mentioning that I had headphones in (I was listening to the ultra marathoning podcast Talk Ultra if you're interested) so I didn't hear anything.
Anyway, a few seconds after seeing something out of the corner of my eye for the 2nd time, I got to a section of trail where the sunlight broke through the tree cover, so I was able to see my shadow. And, I was also able to see the shadow of a great big bird hovering right over my head. I quickly looked up, and there was an owl about 3 feet over my head, hovering, talons out, making eye contact with me. I'd like to say that I was cool and collected, but I threw my hands over my head and screamed like a little girl, and for a brief moment the owl looked at me like I was pathetic and then swooped off into the forest. I then started to laugh like a lunatic.
That was definitely a first for me. I've been bombed by Red Wing Blackbirds lots of times, but never had an owl come after me like that. Perhaps she had a nest close by and was feeling defensive, or maybe she felt that the short, skinny bald guy would be easy prey- who knows.................
Anyway, getting to see that owl so close was pretty darn awesome, even though it nearly ripped my scalp off.