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 the rolling hills of the Scottish highlands to looming chalk cliffs in Sussex, these stunning photographs capture the spectacular beauty of Great Britain .
MESMERIZING night sky photographs offer a spellbinding look at the stars .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
Raising his arms above his head and lying flat on his back, a polar bear stretches as he sprawls out across the ice .
TENNIS was a game made for three according to the first Victorian rule book .
With blue waves tumbling over them, these surfers glide underneath a tunnel of water .
The view from this rooftop pool is sure to make most holidaymakers envious .
A GLOWING range of greens and blues sweep across the sky in a spectacular display of light .
Throwing their arms up in the air, these energetic squirrels play a game of ball with a walnut .
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
THIS is the incredible moment a pelican throws a fish into the air and SLAM DUNKS it into its enormous throat sack .