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
BREATHING life back into old photographs, these black and white images are transformed by colour .
With the full moon looming behind him, this polar bear nestles down for the night .
THIS alien-like bug would look more at home in outer-space but it can actually be found wriggling around here on Earth .
Pouncing down on top of his twin brother, these two snow leopard cubs practice their kung-fu moves .
An osprey soars through the air at 30 miles per hour before swooping down to catch its prey from a lake .
An Italian photographer travelled to the highlands of New Guinea where he met an Indonesian tribe untouched by the modern world .
POPE MOBBED BY THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS IN RIO - Thousands of worshippers gather to celebrate the Papal visit on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro ,Brazil .
WELCOME to what could be the world's tallest TOTALLY wooden construction .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
SNUGGLING up against their teddy bears, these baby sloths could easily be mistaken for one of the cuddly toys .
A kingfisher’s bright blue and orange feathers glisten in the sunlight as the bird dives into a lake .
Like a scene from a fairytale, THOUSANDS of fireflies create an enchanting glow as they dance in a forest .