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
STRIKING photos capture nature at its most raw and powerful during Earth’s most electrifying event .
LEAF-ing much to the imagination, this camera trickery is blooming marvellous .
THEIR gnarling teeth at the ready, these two baboons fight it out for the last piece of fruit .
AN OLD ENGLISH cottage packed full of history and valuables has been left to rot .
A little caterpillar fearlessly scampers down a branch and confronts a praying mantis .
From vibrant blues to dazzling oranges, these eye catching hummingbirds proudly show off their impressive colours .
HOTSPOT MEDIA - MILEY MASH-UP: MILEY CYRUS’ naked wrecking ball vid has been lampooned in this side-spitting photo-mashup .
Beautiful turquoise waves rise and fall in a series of stunning images taken along the coastline of south-eastern Australia .
Sitting all alone on drift ice in the Arctic Ocean, this lonely little fella looks lost .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
A cheeky owl fancies a game of hide and seek as it peeps out from behind a tree .
DINING under the stars, this restaurant takes you back in time - inside an ancient cave .