These images of a woodpecker and a young weasel struggling for survival in Hornchurch Country Park were captured by East London hobbyist photographer Martin Le-May.
Le-May claimed that he and his wife were out for a stroll in the park when they overheard the noise and subsequently witnessed it in progress. They saw the bird had a little creature on its back as it flew directly over them, and that’s when he took these images. That was a weasel which was taking a magical ride on the woodpecker’s back.
Interestingly, you may think this is a cute sᴄᴇɴᴇ but the woodpecker and the juvenile weasel were actually ғɪɢʜᴛing during this occurrence, not flying together. Le-May observed these two ғɪɢʜᴛing after hearing the noise. The baby weasel was actually trying to eat the woodpecker, but the woodpecker was more eager to see another day’s light.
The adorable pair was ғɪɢʜᴛing for their lives. The weasel was distracted by Le-May and his wife as soon as the bird touched down. The woodpecker was given enough time to take flight in the nearby trees as a result. The weasel had no choice but to flee, starving.
Weasels are ғᴇᴀʀless for sᴛᴇᴀʟing eggs from nests, as their name suggests. This little weasel was probably trying to accomplish just that, but he had no idea the bird would ғɪɢʜᴛ back with such a ferocious effort.
