My personal feeling about the Grey-headed Woodpecker record in 1997 is that it was more likely to be an ex-captive individual than of natural occurrence. Woodpeckers are caught and transported to South China (Guangzhou) from as far as Xinjiang; this fact I was surprised to learn during a trip to that province in the late 1990s. Shenzhen is mighty close to Ho Sheung Heung, and so I personally would not rule it out.
It is possible that the piculet was similarly assisted, but at the same time they have occurred in recent years and, as a very small woodpecker, their habitat preferences are probably not as restricted as larger species. Although I have only seen it in forest or open woodland, the latter is present in the LV area. It would be interesting to know if others have seen it in China in habitats similar to those at LV.
GeoffC
