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
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
These photographs of extreme weather capture storms furiously rolling across the sky above America .
A SPECTACULAR array of stars fills the night sky as they soar over this active volcano .
MEET the little lion of suburbia with a mane that makes him look like a mini-king of the jungle .
A fox takes a tumble and lands on his head when he tries to fend off a pair of eagles in Japan .
SNUGGLING up against their teddy bears, these baby sloths could easily be mistaken for one of the cuddly toys .
THEIR gnarling teeth at the ready, these two baboons fight it out for the last piece of fruit .
SPARKLING bright inside their box, it’s hard to believe these diamonds are made from the cremated remains of the deceased .
HOTSPOT MEDIA - WAVE-ING GOODBYE TO RUSH HOUR: WHILE most workers endure commuting chaos by road or rail everyday, one entrepreneur has come up with a novel way to get to the office - by KAYAK .