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
STOOD side by side next to a busy road, these buildings were once bustling with life .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
GETTING behind the camera, this monkey practices his photography skills on his friends .
RAISING his flipper, this two day old seal pup gives a wave to the camera .
SAILING over crystal clear waters, the Bajau people of Malaysia live their lives almost entirely at SEA .
A SPECTACULAR array of stars fills the night sky as they soar over this active volcano .
IN a galaxy not so far away lies a magical display of lights that could be the latest image from NASA .
WITH SNOW COVERING the ground around them, these two polar bears play fight .
