An Albino Penguin on the Beach at Ibiza

This not-completely-flightless bird just made connections over the weekend from Antartica’s McMurdo Station, via Jo’burg and Barcelona, to this decadent Mediterranean getaway. True to his species, he didn’t much appreciate being in the air, but has now settled down to a refreshing Morning Glory while basking in the Balearic sun.

Unfortunately, due to his lack of dermal pigmentation, this guy is quite prone to pink-belly (much like any frosh frat pledge), so he’ll have to watch his time on the beach. By late afternoon, he’ll probably be sighted dining on succulent sautéd squid at Es Paradis, Pacha, Privilege, or one of the other noted nightspots appealing to the sophisticated Spheniscidae.

Albino penguins are not often sighted by scientists. In fact, they are so rare that most nature photographers will not shoot until they see the whites of their eyes, ears, beak, throat, back, belly and tail. Our little avis likes his uniqueness, and values his privacy. (He signed into the Hotel Montesol as ‘Al Bino’, purportedly an Italian wholesaler of haberdashery.)

Upon his return to the deep and icy down under — and his reportage on all the fine topless chicks on the strand — his friends will undoubtedly come flocking the fabulous Med for some fun of their own midst the sun and the sand and the señoritas.