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
From a floating jelly fish to a relaxed seal, Britain’s unappreciated beach life is captured above and below the water .
A BAMBI was dramatically caught in mid-air by a greedy Nile crocodile in a once-in-a-million flying pincer move .
FROM MRS Patmore to Lady Sybil, these barking mad illustrations show the WOOF-er side of some of our most loved Downton characters .
LUMINOUS green rocks could easily be a beach from Superman's homeland of Krypton .
THIS alien-like bug would look more at home in outer-space but it can actually be found wriggling around here on Earth .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
A baby sperm whale assumed the role of a friendly giant when faced with two awestruck divers .
FROM A mini table and chairs to a detailed violin, it’s hard to believe these incredible sculptures are all carved into the nib of PENCILS .
NOT YOUR everyday selfie, this plucky diver poses with some of the scariest predators in the ocean .
YOU’VE heard of the northern lights now feast your eyes on the natural wonder of the SOUTHERN lights .
With luminous colours and alien- like features, these magical mushrooms look like they belong on another planet .