The work of a Pileated Woodpecker.

On several occasions this winter I've seen a male Pileated Woodpecker on my East farm which is 4 miles from the farm I live on. There has been a pair here at home as well but never seen them at the same time.
I've done extensive TSI on 50 acres of timber on the East farm with an end result of many standing dead trees. I've killed the trees over the last 7 years and each year have more woodpeckers of all kinds, bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds are enjoying this area. Just recently I found this large cavity in a dead Red Oak about 12 feet from ground level. I was in hope it was the beginning of a nesting pair making a nest site but it may only be the work of a hungry woodpecker finding a lot of insects in one area of the tree. If I could find a nest site I was hoping to improve my luck at capturing this bird with my camera. The hole does not go down inside the trunk which has me thinking they were only feeding on this tree. Was wondering how others have found these birds nesting and if you think they may come back and finish building here?

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/grizz270/860234​0024/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/grizz270/860237​8900/

This is definately a feeding tree for them. If they were nesting there would be a perfectly round hole in the tree rather than what you're seeing here.

This looks similar to an area where I find them occasionally. Usually pulling bugs out of the trees.

Strike me pink, he's been a busy little lad hasn't he?

BCRose, I'm envious of that shot. I'm sure Duane is correct as I've went by this feeding tree on two more occasions and it has not been touched again. So far the Pileated WP has eluded me when armed with my camera so I've been hoping to find a nesting pair and maybe get some shots of them coming to the nest tree, no luck so far.

Good catch! I sat in the woods for hours the other day and never saw the one I was trying to get!