I have observed this black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) several mornings from our kitchen window. Every time I tried to go out to take a picture, it has flown away - so happened today as well.

However on my way back in, I stopped for a while to take pictures of a choal tit and after 15-20 minutes, I heard that it had come back. It sat high up in its favourite tree right behind me and it was chopping wood pretty fiercely spattering pieces of wood an bark far around. You can see the wooden chips on its black plumage (no, it isn't noise ;-).

This is the largest woodpecker in Europe - about the size of a crow.

Cheers, Jens.