A seagull almost took my drone down while I was overwater

[Yaros]

This was scary!
I was returning my drone over water when suddenly out of nowhere I see a seagull flying into it, I push up but it's too late, my drone starts spinning and falling down! I see it spinning and then it loses signal.
At that moment I was sure it fell into the sea and was preparing to go to the place it "crashed".
But then I heard my RC beeping and saw it is returning home! What a save!

Sadly I wasn't recording at the moment it happened...
Now I'm a little scared flying over water

Any similar experiences from you?

 

[Deleted member 103366]

Gulls will often have a look wherever they are, be that over water or land. Quite a few birds will. You need to be careful when they are about.

 

[Paint Rock Drones]

I had a very large hawk pop out of the trees in the vicinity of my last flight. I think it was coincidental, but landed my Air 2s quickly anyway. Also unfortunately not recording.

 

[pgenneken]

maybe the flightdata would be interesting?

 

[Capt KO]

Congratulations, I bet that Seagull has a great story to tell too.

 

[hiflyer201]

Most everyone has come to the conclusion that Seagulls and drones are a baaaad mix!

 

[Yaros]

maybe the flightdata would be interesting?

Yes for sure, but I can't find it, it was a while ago.

 

[Alex Baxter]

This was scary!
I was returning my drone over water when suddenly out of nowhere I see a seagull flying into it, I push up but it's too late, my drone starts spinning and falling down! I see it spinning and then it loses signal.
At that moment I was sure it fell into the sea and was preparing to go to the place it "crashed".
But then I heard my RC beeping and saw it is returning home! What a save!

Sadly I wasn't recording at the moment it happened...
Now I'm a little scared flying over water

Any similar experiences from you?

I had that with a seagull as well, flew straight at my Air 2, but it dodged away the last minute, whew..

 

[Meta4]

I haven't had any problems with gulls before.
But a few weeks back, I had one that kept coming back to swoop toward the drone.
He made four high speed passes and came within a metre each time.
I managed to grab a shot as he came in on one pass.

 

[Deleted member 103366]

Looking straight at you too, nice capture.

 

[BethanyFerrell]

Congratulations, I bet that Seagull has a great story to tell too.

"… So that's why I'm missing so many flight feathers on the right wing. Hey, can I mooch a couple of those fries off ya? Aw, c'mon, I can barely scrounge for myself these days!"

 

[DaveBonnot]

I was flying at Moss Landing, California when a seagull attacked my Mavic Air 2. I flew back to where I was very quickly and misjudged how long it would take for the drone to stop when it got to me and it crashed into the dune behind me. The Gimbel never recovered. I had the insurance package, so just sent the drone in and got a replacement. Then I read in here that you should always fly straight up and they won't usually follow you. Haven't been back again yet. I think there were young Seagulls around, so he may have been protecting his family.

 

[beermat]

I had a recent near miss....a seagull went all Maverick in front of me and went inverted. Can be seen at the start of this Reel:

Seagull near miss

In the last frame containing the seagull, you can see my drone shadow on it:

 

[HOG2K]

I haven't had any problems with gulls before.
But a few weeks back, I had one that kept coming back to swoop toward the drone.
He made four high speed passes and came within a metre each time.
I managed to grab a shot as he came in on one pass.

@beermat @Meta4, Once again kudos to DJI for having the foresight to put forward sensors on our drones