Steve Potter Photography

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Lilli Pilli, NSW
Steve Potter Photography

Passionate wildlife photographer, Kingfisher lover, and Photographic Es**rt with The Africa Safari Co. All images are my own, and are only in the wild.

All photographs are protected by copyright law and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any form without prior written permission. Images are all subject to copyright and must not be copied, used or distributed without permission. Please ask if you wish to use an image.

10/08/2026

Who’s keen to join me on an incredibly exclusive Black Leopard Safari in Kenya in 2027? I’ll be escorting just six guests on this once in a lifetime adventure, and it's almost sold out, with one single place remaining.

If seeing and photographing a wild black leopard is on your bucket list, now’s the time to think seriously about it — opportunities like this don’t last forever.

BLACK LEOPARD SAFARI 2027 | 9–18 February 2027
Visiting: Nairobi National Park, Masai Mara, Laikipia Wilderness Region

An ultra‑exclusive photographic safari designed for those who crave rare encounters and authentic adventure. Limited to just 6 guests, this is your chance to experience Kenya’s wild heart in private style — with guaranteed priority at black leopard sightings and access to a dedicated Black Leopard Vehicle.

10 Days | AUD $12,595 per person twin share

INCLUDES: 9 nights classic accommodation (Nairobi, Masai Mara and Laikipia), all meals on safari, drinks at Laikipia Wilderness River Camp, private vehicle game drives, all park fees, flights within Kenya, and seamless transfers throughout.

👉 Secure the last spot now

Full itinerary link - https://www.africasafarico.com.au/tour/black-leopard-safari-2027/

27/07/2026

I recently photographed this Beach Kingfisher (Todiramphus saurophagus) while spending time in Waisai, Indonesia.

The Beach Kingfisher is a striking coastal species, recognised by its bright white head, a fine black line trailing behind the eye, and a blue‑green mantle across the back. Juveniles present a noticeably duller appearance, with buff tones across the crown and underparts. This kingfisher is typically seen alone or in pairs, favouring mangroves, open beaches, and rocky shorelines, often perching on exposed rocks or in coastal trees with a clear view of the water.

Kingfisher No. 55 for me

20/07/2026

Oh wow — I nearly forgot to share this shot of an Ornate Pitta (Pitta concinna) from my recent time in Indonesia. This little bloke had plenty of attitude, perched confidently and giving me a proper look as I photographed him.

The Ornate Pitta is classic pitta form: plump, short‑tailed, long‑legged, and mostly a ground dweller, though it’ll perch up when calling. Its colours are extraordinary — bright green across the back, an electric‑blue shoulder patch and rump, a black head with a bold pale brow, and a golden‑buff underside with striking black and red across the belly. Juveniles are noticeably duller, with less blue in the wing, an orange‑tipped bill, and a pinkish belly. The species is resident across woodland, forest, scrub, and plantations throughout the lowlands and hills of the Lesser Sundas, from Lombok through to Alor.

13/07/2026

I was lucky enough to photograph this stunning Common Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea) in Malagufuk recently. It’s one of those birds that feels almost mythical until it’s right there in front of you — perched quietly, tail gently pumping, as if it’s keeping time with the forest.

This species is a long‑tailed beauty of the lowland rainforests, dressed in crisp white underparts and rump, deep midnight‑blue upperparts, and soft pale‑blue highlights across the shoulder and crown. The real showstopper is that elongated white tail, ending in two extended central feathers tipped with perfect little spatulas — a signature flourish of the paradise kingfishers. They’re often heard long before they’re seen, their calls echoing through the understory while they sit motionless for ages, waiting for the right moment to dart off after prey.

The Common Paradise Kingfisher is found across the tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests of New Guinea — both the Indonesian and Papua New Guinea sides — as well as the Maluku Islands. Every encounter feels special, but seeing one so clearly in the rich forest light of Malagufuk was a real privilege.

Kingfisher No. 54
Thanks again to Yerry and Nimbrod for finding this beauty.

08/07/2026

Captured this Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher recently in Malagufuk, Papua Indonesia. A little far away, but that’s life !!

06/07/2026

I recently had the absolute thrill of photographing a Red‑breasted Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera nympha) in the forests of Malagufuk, Papua, Indonesia. These birds are every bit as mesmerising as their Australian cousin, the Buff‑breasted Paradise Kingfisher, which migrates from Papua New Guinea to northern Australia between October and April to breed. Seeing and photographing the red‑breasted species in its home was amazing.

The Red‑breasted Paradise Kingfisher is a true forest jewel — a long‑tailed, mid‑storey specialist found in lowland and foothill rainforest, mangroves and riverine forest across New Guinea and small pockets of Papua, Indonesia. Up close, its colours are extraordinary: a vivid red bill and rump, deep orange underparts, glossy black upperparts, and a striking blue crown and shoulder patch. The elongated tail streamers end in two delicate white spatules that seem to float behind the bird as it moves through the forest. It perches quietly inside the forest interior, often just above eye level, watching for insects and small prey with that classic kingfisher intensity.

For comparison, the Buff‑breasted Paradise Kingfisher is superficially similar but has a clean white back and tail — a key difference when you’re scanning dense rainforest for movement. Both species share that elegant, almost mythical silhouette, but the Red‑breasted carries a richer, more fiery palette that stands out beautifully in the dim forest light.

Kingfisher No. 53 for me.
Thanks Yerry and Nimbrod for finding this beauty.

29/06/2026

I recently spent a few days exploring the island of Flores in Indonesia, and one of my key targets was the endemic White‑rumped Kingfisher (Caridonax fulgidus). This remarkable bird is restricted entirely to the Lesser Sunda Islands — Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Sumba and Timor — making it a true regional specialty and a prized sighting for any birder.

It’s a distinctive large forest kingfisher, cloaked in rich purplish upperparts broken only by the gleaming white rump. The clean white underparts and vivid orange bill add to its bold appearance, while the striking red eye ring gives it an unmistakable intensity. Juveniles are more subdued, showing darker plumage with a yellowish bill, buff tones across the breast, and dark eyes. Typically found singly or in pairs, they move quietly through lowland and foothill forest, often keeping to the upper understory even in degraded patches.

Photographing this species was a real challenge. The White‑rumped Kingfisher is extremely shy, taking off the moment I edged too close. I had only a brief window to work with, and this frame was the best I could manage before it vanished back into the trees. Still, to capture an image of such a rare and elusive kingfisher was a thrill — one more special addition to the collection and Kingfisher No. 52.

25/06/2026

Spending a bit more time in South‑west Papua, Indonesia chasing kingfishers, we struck gold walking through Malagufuk when this magnificent male Blyth’s Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus) appeared. What a sight — almost as impressive as the thunderous wingbeats it makes in flight. Absolutely incredible to watch and photograph.

The Blyth’s Hornbill, also known as the Papuan Hornbill, is the only hornbill in this range and is truly unmistakable. With its all‑black body, striking white tail, and vivid blue skin around the eye and throat pouch, it’s a giant of the lowland and foothill forests. Males stand out with their rufous head and chest, while females sport a black head. That huge ivory bill crowned with a rippled casque is a giveaway, and more often than not you’ll hear the loud wingbeats before you see it. They forage high in the canopy for fruit and occasionally small prey, adding yet another layer of drama to the rainforest.

Moments like this remind me why I love exploring these wild corners of the world — you never know what’s waiting just around the bend.

22/06/2026

After a cracking morning of birding in Varirata National Park, PNG and on our way to lunch, we lucked onto this Rufous‑bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud). They’re a shy unit (nothing like our loud, larrikin Laughing Kookaburra back home) and this one shot off the moment we got too close. I did bump into a few more along the way, but none were sitting anywhere near a decent photographic perch. The Rufous‑bellied is a striking forest kingfisher with a black cap, white collar, blue wings and rump, and that gorgeous rufous belly, sticking to the dense lowland rainforests of New Guinea and nearby islands where it hunts lizards and insects. It can look a bit like the much rarer Shovel‑billed Kookaburra, but the blue wing and longer, paler bill give it away.

That’s Kingfisher No. 51 for me.

18/06/2026

After photographing the Brown‑headed Paradise Kingfisher, we continued wandering through the forest at Varirata National Park when our guide suddenly raised his hand to stop us. Sitting right beside the trail, no more than a few metres away, was a Papuan Dwarf‑Kingfisher (Ceyx solitarius). These birds are tiny, fast, and usually tucked deep in the shadows, so to have one perched calmly in front of us felt like striking gold. Thankfully my camera was still dialled in from the previous kingfisher — the light was just as dim — and I managed to fire off a quick seven‑shot burst before it darted off into the undergrowth.

I did spot another later in the day, but it shot past at full speed along a creek line, nowhere near close enough for a photo. So this little encounter really was my lucky break — one of those fleeting forest moments that rewards patience, timing, and a bit of good fortune.

Kingfisher No. 50 for me.

Address

Lilli Pilli, NSW

Website

https://stevepotterphotography.com.au/

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