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
WRAPPED up in classy headscarves, these adorable pooches are the picture of sophistication .
An aerial view of flooding in Gloucestershire .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
FULLY equipped with a kitchen and lounge, it's hard to believe this modern holiday let is actually a BUS .
The lighthouses of Brittany, from Brest to Le Conquet, stand tall on France’s north-western coast against stunning scenery .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .
Pic By Graham Gibson/ HotSpot Media - SHARK HYPNOTIST BALANCES SHARK IN PALM OF HIS HAND- In Pic - Diver Tom and Caribbean reef sharks in the Bahamas- A SHARK hypnotist balances these predators in the palm of his hand by sending them to sleep with a gentle nose rub .
A group of otters put on a show of aqua aerobics, as they raise their flippers perfectly in sync .
The gunslingers are long gone and tumbleweeds have taken over at this abandoned American Wild West Theme Park in Cornwall .