What did this

[Neiltoo]

I was going through some old photos when I found this. I never did discover what made it. I assume that it was a bird - mainly because there seemed to be no tracks leading to or from the tree but it seemed to be a huge hole for a bird to make.
The photo was taken in mid february 2 years ago in the french alps - :confused:

Thanks for any info

[C_Claycomb]

I think it will have been a black woodpecker going after carpenter ants which live in conifers. It is the size of a crow and typically makes holes up to half a meter long and 10-15 cm wide.
So says Animal Tracks and Signs - Bang and Dahlstrom :D

[Neiltoo]

Thanks for that - I remember wondering at the time if it might have been a woodpecker but then dismissing it cos the whole was so big.

I didnt realise that there was such a large type of woodpecker.