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
Lying angelically with a range of expressions etched on their tiny faces, little bundles of joy are innocently captured in their first few days in these adorable photographs .
A mining town in Australia’s outback appears to be completely deserted, but its residents have escaped the scorching heat by living in underground caves .
A cheeky gorilla sticks her tongue out and plays up for the camera at Bronx Zoo .
A small Indian monkey is seemingly gob-smacked after reading the latest stock market news .
A BLIND man was battered with a brick in a sickening attack by two thugs .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
ROLLING up snow in its tiny paws, this little squirrel is looking for a snowball fight .
Animal rescue volunteers have told how a cat riddled with cancer was forced to ripped off its own ears after it was abandoned by its owners .
This may look like a monster car engine that will leave petrol heads in a spin, but it is in fact a rather snazzy looking COFFEE MACHINE .
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .