Context:
A team of seasoned birders has successfully rediscovered the long-billed bush warbler (Locustella major) in the Suru Valley of Ladakh — a species not confirmed in the region since 1979.

Ecological and Scientific Significance
- Habitat Update:
- For the first time, the warbler was seen perching on a willow tree in terraced fields among rumex and gooseberry shrubs.
- IUCN Status:
- Classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN.
- Population History:
- Was common in Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan in the 1930s; sightings became rare due to sparse expeditions and habitat changes.