(Martin Le-May)
Yep, this is real life. A lucky and skilled British photographer managed to snap a stunning shot of a European green woodpecker in mid-flight—bug-eyed and desperately trying to escape the clutches of a weasel, who had snuck up on it in a park in east London, and is now clinging on for dear life.
As the photographer, Martin Le-May, told Slate, “the pair got about 10 feet off the ground before landing again, where the bird managed to free itself of the weasel and fly off, both creatures apparently unharmed.” The BBC’s wildlife expert, Lucy Cooke, called it “a truly extraordinary thing to have captured,” remarking on how odd it was for a ground-feeding weasel to try its hand at preying on a bird.
Enter, of course, the Internet.
I came in like a #WeaselPecker pic.twitter.com/9pkVciT9t4
— The Poke (@ThePoke) March 3, 2015
If you’ve heard about the #WeaselPecker, you’ll be pleased to see that someone has added Putin. (h/t to @sklueche) pic.twitter.com/CJ5O4tCG6h
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) March 3, 2015
Watch out, #Putin-on-a-weasel-on-a-woodpecker – there’s a Stormtrooper behind you! (via @msteeman) #WeaselPecker pic.twitter.com/dU5WSM9wpt
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) March 3, 2015
dinosaur riding a #WeaselPecker pic.twitter.com/iX0W7dOsLN
— Koffe (@KoffeHippo) March 3, 2015
Some noted that this was, essentially, a live-action harkening-back to toons from their youth:
#WeaselPecker Disney saw this coming YEARS ago… pic.twitter.com/Uma84t2XTi — Brendan (@Brendan_Surrey) March 3, 2015
@hahabita @birdchick #weaselpecker pic.twitter.com/2cYgxKTVqZ
— The Birdist (@TheBirdist) March 2, 2015
And, inspired by the photo, others still showcased their own amazing wildlife “shots.”
Amazing photo of little man riding a pigeon. Apparently the pigeon escaped. #weaselpecker pic.twitter.com/e6qQI0nGTY
— Tim O (@SittingByTheSea) March 3, 2015
I also got a lucky snapshot #WeaselPecker pic.twitter.com/NrA9I8ztwh
— Isaac New in town (@HJHerbst) March 3, 2015
