It was magpie season, and sensible Australians were heading out in helmets with spikes or ice-cream containers perched on their heads.

Our photographer turned up in a red cap, a yellow shirt, board shorts and a lens so long it looked like he was planning to photograph the moon.

The magpie swooped.

He ducked, then lifted the camera again.

The magpie swooped again.

He leaned back, aimed up and kept shooting. Somewhere between the third pass and the one that nearly rearranged his hair, this stopped being a photo shoot and became a staring contest with wings.

Neither contestant blinked.

The magpie defended its patch with the dedication of a tiny feathered security guard. The photographer followed every pass through his viewfinder, apparently convinced that the perfect picture was just one more swoop away.

And there it was: magpie in flight, wings spread, looking magnificent.

The photographer got his picture.

The magpie made its point.

So yes, both refused to give up.

The photographer won the shot. The magpie won the right to keep swooping him.

Next time, he might consider an ice-cream container. With a hole cut for the lens, naturally. 🤣

Image credit: Nick Obrien