Incredible photo captures weasel riding on a woodpecker's back

Sometimes, a photographer is lucky enough to capture a once-in-a-lifetime photo. For wildlife photographer Martin Le-May, the moment he captured a weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker is certainly one of them.

Took this picture earlier today. Heard woodpecker in distress, then flew up with Weasel on back

— Martin Le-May (@KingYamel) March 2, 2015

The photo might seem to suggest a Disney-esque partnership à la The Rescuers, but the truth is not so cuddly - the weasel was, in fact, feeling a little peckish.

Le-May says he heard a "distressed" bird before seeing the bird come under attack from a hungry weasel.

Panicked, the woodpecker took wing - brining his furry adversary with him.

Le-May snapped the shot in a London park yesterday, and it received much-deserved attention on social media before the story was picked up by ITV News.

Le-May told ITV he had been out for a walk with his wife in Hornchurch Country Park when he heard the bird squawking and "hopping about like it was treading on a hot surface."

"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."

There's nothing wrong, of course, with a weasel looking for his lunch - but many readers will nonetheless be happy to hear that both parties walked away with nothing injured except their pride.

@ClassBore @rbnUK @Jayward7 Jon, the woodpecker just managed to escape and the weasel disappeared into the long grass hungry

— Martin Le-May (@KingYamel) March 2, 2015

And to think - this type of adventure probably happens all the time in nature. We just don't get it caught perfectly on camera.

— Martin Le-May via Jason Ward.