Incredible video footage of the Sunday morning confrontation shows the irate bird managed to mount its assault – swooping six times in the space of 100 metres as Mr Nicholson pedalled along Shellharbour Road – even as it was gathering breakfast.

‘‘He had a worm in his mouth and he was still prepared to come down and get me,’’ said Mr Nicholson, who mounted a Go Pro to his helmet on Sunday in anticipation of an encounter with the bird, an old foe.

‘‘I love his commitment.’’

Spring is breeding time for the region’s magpie population and attacks are common as the birds seek to guard their nests. 

The annual tradition is being chronicled on a Facebook page, Illawarra Magpie Swooping Areas. Visitors to the page can leave details of known swooping hotspots for others to avoid. 

Berkeley mum Melanie Trinca started the page after she and her daughters were repeatedly swooped on while riding their bikes around Lake Illawarra. 

‘‘The thumping on my helmet was enough to give me a headache,’’ said Mrs Trinca, of a recent, repeated attack.