House Buntings are a North African species which have recently started to colonise Europe. They have turned up occasionally in Gibraltar over the past few years and have started nesting for the first time in Europe in Algeciras and La Linea.

They are small, rusty coloured birds, not unlike sparrows in behaviour, and will occur in built up areas.

Currently there is a group of three in the area of Europa Point, but it could be that there are others in Gibraltar and that some have actually nested here unobserved.

Anyone spotting a House Bunting in Gibraltar is asked to report it to the Department of the Environment by email to MHE@gibraltar.gov.gi

Minister for Environment John Cortes said: “The call earlier this year successfully identified the nesting site for the first barn swallow to nest on the Rock for 55 years, a public response that was much appreciated and that suggests that if the buntings are here, together we will find them!”