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
BREATHING life back into old photographs, these black and white images are transformed by colour .
AN ARRAY of colours, from pinks to blues and oranges, fill the night sky to create an amazing collection of interstellar patterns .
At least three people have been killed and more than 100 injured, some seriously, in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon .
TOWERING 65 metres into the sky, this terrifying accent is a dream for climbers .
THEIR gnarling teeth at the ready, these two baboons fight it out for the last piece of fruit .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
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 .
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
SKIPPING on the spot, an adorable little owl embraces the 'running man' challenge .
A couple celebrated tying the knot with a spectacular Alice in Wonderland-themed wedding reception .