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
A SPECTRUM of colours fills the sky during this spectacular and natural display of light .
Sitting all alone on drift ice in the Arctic Ocean, this lonely little fella looks lost .
SPURTING water 20ft into the air, this is one well you wouldn't want to dip your bucket into .
This tranquil setting stretches for miles as the sun sets behind the mountain .
A kingfisher’s bright blue and orange feathers glisten in the sunlight as the bird dives into a lake .
The gunslingers are long gone and tumbleweeds have taken over at this abandoned American Wild West Theme Park in Cornwall .
SNUGGLING up against their teddy bears, these baby sloths could easily be mistaken for one of the cuddly toys .
A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness .
A cheeky owl fancies a game of hide and seek as it peeps out from behind a tree .
FLYING through the air, these delighted pooches pull their best poses mid-flight .