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
THESE LOVE BIRDS can’t keep their beaks off each other as they share a very public display of affection .
A German photographer travelled around Africa where he met and photographed members of tribes in a series of intimate portraits .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
Jostling their quills into the noses of some unlucky cubs, this is the moment two feisty porcupines ALMOST defeat a pride of seven lions .
A terrified moose, trapped in a frozen lake, bobs her head above the icey water and awaits her rescue .
WITH LUSH GREEN LANDSCAPES stretching out as far as the eye can see, you're in for a treat at these one of a kind treehouses .
HUNDREDS of colour coordinated yarns lie abandoned in this once thriving textile mill .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
Complete with core, mantle and crust, these incredible planet cakes are truly out of this world .
An Indonesian farmer is dragged through muddy water as he clings to the tails of two charging cows .
NEW DELHI, A woman activist of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party crosses a police barricade near the residence of ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi during a protest against the recent rape of a five-year-old girl in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2013 .