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Male Combat: |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416  View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 09 Mar 2006 Okie dokie the males are out , we all know that, but when can we expect to see combat? I've been in the field since I was a young child but only ever seen combat once in Studland Dorset, and that was before I was into photography and I did not make note of the date. I'd love to get some shots if pos' , so does anyone know a rough date when this will happen? Cheers, Alan O-> O+> |
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John Newton Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2005 No. of posts: 151 View other posts by John Newton |
Posted: 09 Mar 2006 Hi Alan Up here in the wilds of Derbyshire, combat displays are typically seen during the first two weeks of April. The display can happen very suddenly, usually when not expected, and can be very frantic with both males moving extremely quickly throught the vegetation. It is usually brought on by an unattached male approaching another (attached) one which has mating intentions with a nearby female. Occasionally the frantic displays are actually between the male and female, and not two males - presumably because she is not too impressed by the males approaches, and as a result, gets chased about by him. I suppose the trick in witnessing the display is to make frequent and persistent visits to sites, keeping known males under protracted observation, on the basis that at some point you may witness just a brief confrontation prior to mating. Hope this helps.
John Newton South Yorkshire ARG |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 09 Mar 2006 Hi John, That helped alot , thanks. I'm vistiting my site every day that weather permits so with any luck 
Will be sure to share the pics if i'm lucky enough to catch the moment All the best John, Alan O-> O+> |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 09 Mar 2006
The advice I was given by a herper who has filmed male combat is to find the female adders - once you have located a female this is where the action is most likely to take place - as the males follow her scent trails and of course there may be a small gathering around particular females - the ones giving off the right signals - rival males will hopefully compete for her attentions - I think that in the middle of April is the most likely time to see combat - I have never seen it also but I am determined to try this advice out
Regards Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 10 Mar 2006 Hi Jon , Thanks alot for your response , i'm going to try this out also . Let me know if you manage to see the action
All the best, Alan O-> O+> |
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Mick Member Joined: 10 Jun 2005 No. of posts: 184 View other posts by Mick |
Posted: 10 Mar 2006 Yeh, what Jon says seems to make fair logic to me, basically, very patient & careful loitering near to females. I'd love to actually witness (or, even better, film) the combative so-called 'dance of the Adders'. Even if it is often something of a brief skirmish, it's gotta be a privilege to see, as relatively few of us have managed to actually witness it. Best spring scrap i've so far managed to see was between two adult male Green lizards, on Jersey, in the late '90's..That was a briefish thing, too, but dust flew & they really went for eachother! |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 13 Mar 2006 Well, I saw 12 adders at Brookwood today , 10 males and 2 females . All males were very fidgety and active . O-> O+> |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 13 Mar 2006 Here's a not very good pic I took of one male as he went in and out of the heather and moss. In the end I layed down on the ground and waited , he once again emerged and paused right in front of my camera just long enough to take this pic  O-> O+> |
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*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220  View other posts by *SNAKE* |
Posted: 13 Mar 2006 nice pic AL hope to be up there myself this week near to pirbright nice little adder site Steve langham told me about last year 2 adders this year so far Paul PAUL SMITH |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 13 Mar 2006 There are varying degrees of male combat. depending on age and size. Two adult males each about 60cm long in 1994 had the longest bout I have witnessed. It was 14th April, and in the Mendips, and I filmed this for BBC nat hist unit. The combat was centred around a female; one male was already well advanced with courtship; when the other encroached - he came off like a rocket, and the first combat session lasted 11 minutes. They parted and then met up agagin for another session hich lasted 18 minutes. The female in the meantime had made herself scarce. After all this, the males were exhausted; and coiled up peacefully next to each other for a good old basking session. If a large male encounters a smaller male it is more of a brief skirmish. Good sightings oh yes, what happend to 'adders in the snow?? T |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 13 Mar 2006 Paul, thanks mate and good luck at Pirbright this week. Tony, Thanks for the info. We never had any snow that settled for any length of time O-> O+> |
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*SNAKE* Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 No. of posts: 220 View other posts by *SNAKE* |
Posted: 13 Mar 2006 hi AL spoke to Chris-gleed Owen today, can you phone or email him regarding sightings for last summer Paul PAUL SMITH |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 14 Mar 2006 Sent you a PM Paul , thanks mate. O-> O+> |
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Jerry Senior Member Joined: 08 Jan 2005 No. of posts: 66 View other posts by Jerry |
Posted: 30 Mar 2006 I filmed the male combat two years ago and have about three or four mins of excellent footage. jerry |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 31 Mar 2006 I'd like to see that Jerry O-> O+> |
- Male Combat |
