A few years ago, when I had just started bird photography, we visited RSPB Rainham Marshes, which has a large Swift population. With so many flying chaotically around us, I figured it would be easy enough to catch one or two in focus. How wrong I was — a passing birdwatcher actually laughed out loud watching me try. After dozens of failed shots, I gave up. Today, we were out at Wimbledon Common hoping to photograph some water birds in the ponds but got distracted by a few Swifts flying overhead. Whether it was the wind slowing them down or they were just feeling charitable, they gave me a chance — and I managed my best-ever shots of this bird.