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Amazing Photo Captures Weasel ‘Riding’ a Woodpecker

An amazing new photo taken Monday captured the rare moment of a weasel “riding” on the back of a woodpecker, though it wasn’t all fun and games.

Amateur photographer Martin Le-May, 52, witnessed the free ride while walking with his wife in the Hornchurch Country Park in east London. And what looked like harmless play turned out to be a battle between predator and prey.

Le-May heard “distressed squawking” and soon realized that the weasel was actually trying to eat what appeared to be a European green woodpecker.

“The bird flew across us and slightly in our direction; suddenly it was obvious it had a small mammal on its back and this was a struggle for life,” Le-May told Business Insider.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, despite their small size, weasels are notoriously bold and aggressive predators. They mostly eat mice, rats and rabbits, but will also take on, it seems, birds, as well as frogs.

“It’s quite unusual for them to go for a bird but green woodpeckers forage on the ground. I imagine the weasel gave it a go, jumped on its back and then the woodpecker took off,” Le-May told ITV.

Le-May “feared the worst” for the bird, which landed just about 25 meters (82 feet) from the couple. But thankfully, a welcomed distraction gave the imperiled woodpecker a chance to escape.

“I guess our presence… momentarily distracted the weasel,” Le-May said. “The woodpecker seized the opportunity and flew up and away into some bushes away to our left. Quickly the bird gathered its self respect and flew up into the trees and away from our sight.”

Photo : Martin Le-May/Twitter