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
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
CLIMBING, falling and tugging on his weary mum, this little orangutan is up to all kinds of trouble .
These adorable pictures show the moment two cuddly red panda cubs take their first look at the outside world and are weighed for the very first time .
MASKED intruders look sinister but really they are a gang of urban exploring pranksters .
Meet the human CCTV: a PCSO with a memory for faces so sharp he has apprehended more than 130 suspects in the last year alone with his eagle eyed talents .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
FISTS fly as two gorillas take each other on in a dramatic battle .
PAWS for thought as you feast your eyes on this rare bear bathing session .
EXPERTLY camouflaged, this clever panther chameleon knows how to catch its prey by surprise .
A toddler has shrugged off death an incredible 10 times thanks to his parents who revive him with the kiss of life every two weeks .
A cheeky gorilla sticks her tongue out and plays up for the camera at Bronx Zoo .
A diver looks like a minnow as she swims alongside a gigantic whale shark, the largest species of fish on the planet .