Elusive Long-Billed Bush Warbler sighted in Kargil after 46 years

Kargil, Jul 23: The Long-billed Bush Warbler, last documented sighting in India in 1979 and considered lost, has been rediscovered in the Suru Valley of Kargil in Ladakh by a team led by Lt Gen Bhupesh K Goyal, along with four others.

This rare sighting is the result of sustained field effort in a challenging terrain.

This sighting is the first of its kind in India since 1979.

The rediscovery took place on July 15 at an altitude of 10,500 feet, near the village of Sankoo in Kargil district, by a dedicated team of five birders - Harish Thangaraj, Lt Gen Bhupesh K Goyal, Manjula Desai, Rigzin Nubu, and Irfan Jeelani.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir about the discovery, Irfan Jeelani, a bird watcher and enthusiast hailing from Kangan area of Ganderbal district, said that it was a dream come true to be part of the group in sighting the Long-billed Bush Warbler.

He said that in early July, he received a call from Harish Thangaraj, an avid birder who had recently discovered the Sind Woodpecker.

“He told me he was planning an expedition to search for the long-lost Long-billed Bush Warbler in Kashmir and the Suru Valley of Kargil, and asked if I would like to join. Without a moment’s hesitation, I said yes,” Jeelani said. “The Long-billed Bush Warbler had always been high on my wish list. I had tried looking for it multiple times across various locations in Kashmir and Suru Valley, but with no success.”

He said that Thangaraj had done extensive research, consulting every possible source, especially James Eaton, who had observed the bird on the other side of Kashmir.

“I, too, had done my homework and shortlisted potential locations, with a special focus on the Gurez and Tulail valleys,” Jeelani said. “Our expedition began on July 12, 2025. We drove into the breathtaking Gurez Valley, crossing the scenic Razdan Pass. As we entered Dawar town, we spotted sea buckthorn vegetation and decided to scan the area for birds. To our excitement, we saw a few birds and through our binoculars, they looked just like the one we were looking for. But alas, it was only our excitement playing tricks on us.”

He said that the next came the second leg of the expedition in Kargil’s Suru Valley.

“I was supposed to join the team there, but due to some urgent work, I had to skip this part of the trip. Still, I remained in constant touch with the team, eagerly awaiting updates. Then came the moment I had been waiting for. On the afternoon of July 15, Rigzin shared an audio recording for identification. The moment I heard it, I knew it was the call of the Long-billed Bush Warbler. I was shaking with excitement. I immediately called Thangaraj and told him, ‘I’m coming,’” Jeelani said. “By 1:45 pm, I hit the road toward Suru, determined to reach before sunset to get a record shot. I drove fast and alone, covering nearly 186 km. I still don’t know how, but I made it in time. The team was waiting for me. After the warm hugs and excitement, I marched straight toward the habitat, and there it was. We had found the bird.”

He said that it was the adventure of a lifetime.

Meanwhile, the environmentalists and birding communities have hailed the rediscovery and called the sighting “nothing short of extraordinary,” noting that it highlights how much remains hidden in India’s fragmented natural landscapes and the urgent need to protect such wilderness.