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
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
AN American accountant has grown the world's biggest MELON and smashed his way into the record books with his mammoth 350 .
A disabled sheep is enjoying a new fleece of life after receiving a specially-designed wheelchair .
Here's a collection of art for the DIGIT-AL age as these fascinating illusions of landmarks, places and even a banana are made using just a pair of hands .
LIFTING their heads high and bumping beaks, these aggressive pelicans clash over fish .
SAT ON top of a Brazilian turtle’s head, this little ladybird looks content as he studies his environment from a new height .
A SPECTRUM of colours fills the sky during this spectacular and natural display of light .
FINALLY catching a meal, a pair of great white egrets fight over their dinner .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
PERCHED on a branch, these two frogs hold hands as they look into the camera .
TENNIS was a game made for three according to the first Victorian rule book .