Amazing picture of weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker in Essex country park

[Bosonic]

Amazing picture of weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker in Essex country park

A birdwatching couple happened upon this incredible scene of a weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker.

But the small mammal was not trying to hitch a lift - it was trying to kill the bird to eat it.

Martin Le-May was out walking with his wife in Hornchurch Country Park in Essex yesterday hoping to spot a green woodpecker.

He saw one stumbling around in the undergrowth and quickly switched from his binoculars to his camera to catch the action.

He said he noticed the bird after hearing it cry out in distress.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/weasel-woodpecker-amazing-picture-birdwatcher-hornchurch-country-park-photograph-10081703.html

[In_The_Wind]

1. It was a truly great photo.

[chervilant]

2. Glad the woodpecker got away!! n/t

[riqster]

3. The Meme makers are all over it.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/the-weasel-riding-the-woodpecker-is-now-a-glorious-meme

[nolabear]

4. I just snorted wine out my nose.

I think it was "peckerweasel" that sent me over. I'm such a cheap date.

[mackerel]

16. Thanks I'm wiping the screen from laughing so hard.

[riqster]

17. My work here is done.

[vanlassie]

5. Just as an aside, my darling only daughter married a Brit,

moved from California to...Hornchurch. I will share.

[burrowowl]

6. Flying is beaten walking

pretty far out. Great catch!

[ffr]

7. ha ha ha-ha ha!

[0nirevets]

8. Avatar model of using birds as beasts of burden shown possible, Evolution in motion!

This is an attack by the weasel and a flee by the bird, but this is also how evolution works. One can imagine this sort of thing happening often over many generations of both species, only the weasels find an evolutionary advantage by covering far distances quickly, perhaps escaping predation themselves in the process, and the birds gain by forming some symbiotic relationship with the weasels. Humans learned not to predate on many species, opting instead to use them for carrying things, including themselves (mules, ox, camels, etc.). This is truly a beautiful photo.

[Martin Eden]

9. Incredible! n/t

[Iwillnevergiveup]

10. Had to click on the article

to see how this incredible event turned out. Very relieved to see a happy ending.
What a shot!

[mikekohr]

11. That Scott Walker is vicious nt

[Plucketeer]

12. Straighten up 'n fly right!

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="

?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Matariki]

13. and this

[Matariki]

14. or this

[Javaman]

15. first it's woodpecker taxi service then it's bovine mass transit! nt

[PCIntern]

18. Emblematic of Republicans

Weasels riding on the back of a creature which was the benefit of millennia of evolution. Then denying the concept of Evolution.