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
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
DASHING through the snow, this little stoat is on the lookout for a Christmas feast .
THEIR gnarling teeth at the ready, these two baboons fight it out for the last piece of fruit .
With blue waves tumbling over them, these surfers glide underneath a tunnel of water .
An American black bear mimics John Travolta’s famous Saturday Night Fever dance move by hurling its arm in the air .
THIS alien-like bug would look more at home in outer-space but it can actually be found wriggling around here on Earth .
The gunslingers are long gone and tumbleweeds have taken over at this abandoned American Wild West Theme Park in Cornwall .
VIBRANT bursts of colour fill the screen as beautiful flowers blossom in these time-lapse videos .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
AIRPORT staff have been put on alert after diet pills that come in grenade shaped containers sparked security alerts .
SAILING peacefully across a river in the early morning light, a fisherman in China keeps a 1000 year old tradition alive .
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .