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 brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters .
TUGGING at his exhausted mum's ears, a beautiful baby orangutan refuses to settle for a nap as he begins a game of peek-a-boo .
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
THE THOUGHT OF BECOMING shipwrecked on a remote destination would fill most holidaymakers with dread .
Meet the human CCTV: a PCSO with a memory for faces so sharp he has apprehended more than 130 suspects in the last year alone with his eagle eyed talents .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
This longhorn beetle demon-strates a dark side as it looks just like the devil .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
A lively lemon shark grins into the camera and showcases his impressive teeth .
