A GIANT owl swooped on a terrified jogger’s ponytail and “tried to eat her”.
Hattie Atkinson Smith, 27, was set upon as she ran on a riverside path early in the morning.
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She felt “a hand” on her head and turned to see the bird, with a 6ft wingspan, tugging at her hair.
Data scientist Hattie shook it off and sprinted to safety “because I was scared it would try again.”
She said: “I think it thought my hair was a rodent and tried to eat me.
“It was just so big, that was what was scary.
“I’ve never seen a bird so big in the wild. I’m 5ft 5in.
“The wingspan was huge!
“But I’m relieved it wasn’t a person.”
Unhurt Hattie later looked up the bird on the internet and realised it was a Eurasian eagle-owl.
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The species is native to Europe, Asian and Northern Africa but this one is likely to have escaped captivity.
It has been prowling the streets surrounding the home of Norwich City, nicknamed the Canaries, with residents regularly reporting sightings.
The bird has distinctive orange eyes, as well as feathery ear tufts, and has been nicknamed Alfie.
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