Essex photographer Martin Le-May captured this epic moment on Monday, in which a weasel is soaring on the back of a woodpecker. It was Tweeted out by birder/wildlife photographer Jason Ward where it quickly went viral and had many people wondering if it was real or photoshopped. It’s apparently very real.
ABSOLUTLEY INCREDIBLE photo by Martin Le-May. Green Woodpecker and Weasel. Apparently the Woodpecker escaped. pic.twitter.com/PUt1b2Mbhs
— Jason Ward (@Jayward7) March 2, 2015
As we walked we heard a distressed squawking and I saw that flash of green. So hurriedly I pointed out to Ann the bird and it settled into the grass behind a couple of small silver birch trees. Both of us trained our binoculars and it occurred that the woodpecker was unnaturally hopping about like it was treading on a hot surface. Lots of wing flapping showing that gloriously yellow/white colour interspersed with the flash of red head feathers. Just after I switched from my binoculars to my camera 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.
He added that the woodpecker managed to get away, while the weasel wandered off into the grass.
Real or not, you can’t put a picture like that online and expect to walk away meme-free.
Here are some of the best responses from Twitter of the #WeaselPecker:
Fallt nicht auf die Fälschung rein die hier gerade kursiert! Hier das original! #WeaselPecker pic.twitter.com/mOQnYTSV37
— 's Teechen (@Tee_Lichtenrade) March 3, 2015
@sheeraf @Laradio Putin<Weasel<Woodpecker chased by Stormtrooper. pic.twitter.com/bEsxl690Pm
— Marcel Steeman (@msteeman) March 3, 2015
'90s kids, it's what we've been waiting for ... #WeaselPecker #Weasel #Woodpecker #Pokemon #90s #Pikachu #Pokemon pic.twitter.com/LjniQ9pUqq
— L Phillip Lucas (@LPhillipLucas) March 3, 2015
I came in like a #WeaselPecker pic.twitter.com/9pkVciT9t4
— The Poke (@ThePoke) March 3, 20