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
GIANT garden sculptures don't beat about the bush .
BALANCING on top of a tree, this bear cub puts her climbing skills to the test .
Soldiers standing guard outside the Woolwich barracks in London - Two terror suspects are under armed guard in separate hospitals in London after a serving soldier was hacked to death in the street .
THIS incredible shimmer of silver fish mirrors the image of that of an underwater tornado .
THIS alien-like bug would look more at home in outer-space but it can actually be found wriggling around here on Earth .
A German photographer travelled around Africa where he met and photographed members of tribes in a series of intimate portraits .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
VIBRANT bursts of colour fill the screen as beautiful flowers blossom in these time-lapse videos .
CAMPED out in the middle of a forest, these unusual hut hotels take you back to basics .
WITH SNOW COVERING the ground around them, these two polar bears play fight .
The gunslingers are long gone and tumbleweeds have taken over at this abandoned American Wild West Theme Park in Cornwall .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .