Hi Geoff,
Some comments as you are asking...
When I first started birdwatching in HK I often used to see white-cheeked laughing thrush on Braemar Hill, HK Island in the late 1980s, early 1990s. I don't imagine there are many records there now as the vegetation has changed a lot, much less grass and scrub now. [They were a regular feature in Lam Tsuen but I imagine they will begin to struggle as development continues.]
Sooty-headed Bulbul was regular at Braemar. Winter visitors included black-faced bunting, E woodcock, Rubythroat. I was very excited to see my first Scimitar Babbler at Braemar in 1988/89. They were beginning to become more common around Aberdeen CP at that time. Obviously these are now widespread. Silver-eared Mesia were often about and I heard SE mesia singing down at Tin Hau temple road last week so they may well have established there.
I am curious about Chinese Francolin. I used to see and more often hear it at Braemar. I imagine it too will have been affected by the habitat developing into forest.
I hope I get along to the talk, it sounds very interesting.
Dylan
[ Last edited by subbuteo at 28/10/2015 16:10 ]
