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
ROLLING across a 65-metre-high viaduct in the Alps, the red carriages of the Bernina Express add a splash of colour to the spectacular snow-covered Swiss surroundings .
A SERENE turquoise glow glimmers from underneath these powerful icebergs .
TENNIS was a game made for three according to the first Victorian rule book .
WITH A LITTLE cap of fresh snow resting on his head, this squirrel tries his best to pull off his new look .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
NEW DELHI, A woman activist of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party crosses a police barricade near the residence of ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi during a protest against the recent rape of a five-year-old girl in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2013 .
A striped marlin means business as it spots lunch and spears a small fish .
HUDDLING under a leaf, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls take shelter from the rain .
A Brit photographer has captured one of the world's most camera-shy species of fish - during a game of underwater peek-a-boo .
THIS unique holiday accommodation allows you to enjoy a full Flintstones experience .
This longhorn beetle demon-strates a dark side as it looks just like the devil .
