STAR-TI-LING: 40,000 STARLINGS MIMIC HITCHCOCK'S THE BIRDS- This could be the fearsome scene from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds as a flock of 40,000 starlings bask in the heat of a wonderful British sunset. The extraordinary light and shadows echoes the 1960s hit film as huge numbers of the birds appear ready to descend and attack earth below. Fortunately it was actually a far more peaceful setting on Brighton Pier as the amazing murmuration of the birds gathered around the coastline of the seaside resort. They swooped around in the winter sun in February this year, as captured by Hove based photographer Alan Mackenzie. He said despite the large numbers of birds, they have dramatically dwindled in recent decades.Alan, 32, said: "Moments like this make me proud to live on such a beautiful planet and appreciative of the fact that, as a human living in the modern world, I am privileged enough to observe it all
MEET the little lion of suburbia with a mane that makes him look like a mini-king of the jungle .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
GLAMPING is taken to a whole new level in the form of the luxurious Pop-Up Hotel .
A group of shelter dogs showcase their loveable personalities in a series of passport-style photographs - in the hope of finding their forever homes .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
Armed with a snorkel, flippers and her skimpy bikini, an intrepid female free diver swims alongside an array of reef sharks .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
FLEXING his muscles and staring straight at his opponent, this bodybuilding squirrel is the nuts .
Staring death in the face, a little field mouse bravely confronts a hungry cat .
A disabled sheep is enjoying a new fleece of life after receiving a specially-designed wheelchair .
Southern England, the south-west and west Wales have been warned to expect more wild weather, with heavy rain and high tides possibly leading to coastal flooding and travel disruption over the weekend .