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 curious red squirrel takes a break from collecting nuts and tries her hand at photography .
A blanket of fog is lit up by the colourful glowing lights of the city below .
AN ARRAY of colours, from pinks to blues and oranges, fill the night sky to create an amazing collection of interstellar patterns .
THESE LOVE BIRDS can’t keep their beaks off each other as they share a very public display of affection .
A BLIND man was battered with a brick in a sickening attack by two thugs .
A makeup artist from the West Midlands magically transforms herself into famous cartoon characters using body paint .
A lively lemon shark grins into the camera and showcases his impressive teeth .
MASKED intruders look sinister but really they are a gang of urban exploring pranksters .
A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico .
A host of websites that are almost twenty years old are collecting a cult following thanks to their retro appeal .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
A chipmunk, with his cheeks full to bursting, has no intention of leaving with an empty stomach .