
Whites
Hairstreaks
Blues and Coppers
Admirals
Vannesids
Fritallaries
Browns
note, the quite different underwing markings of the common blue male above

| Year | First | Second |
| 1976 | nr | |
| 1977 | nr | |
| 1978 | nr | |
| 1979 | nr | |
| 1980 | 15 May | |
| 1981 | 11 May | |
| 1982 | 11 May BR | |
| 1983 | 8 May | |
| 1984 | 23 April | |
| 1985 | 15 May | |
| 1986 | 16 May | |
| 1987 | 23 April | |
| 1988 | nr | |
| 1989 | 2 May | |
| 1990 | 30 March | |
| 1991 | 27 July BR | |
| 1992 | 3 May | |
| 1993 | nr | |
| 1994 | 2 May BR | |
| 1995 | 29 July HE | |
| 1996 | 21 April | |
| 1997 | 6 April BR | |
| 1998 | 9 May BR | |
| 1999 | 2 May BR | |
| 2000 | 1 May BR | |
| 2001 | 12 May BR | |
| 2002 | 3 April BR | |
| 2003 | 17 April BR | |
| 2004 | 27 April BR | |
| 2005 | 17 April BR | |
| 2006 | 27 April BR | |
| 2007 | 8 April BR | |
| 2008 | 27 April BR | |
| 2009 | 26 April BR | |
| 2010 | 17 April BR | |
| 2011 | 8 April BR | |
| 2012 | 22 April BR | |
| 2013 | 21 April BR | 7 Oct |
| 2014 | 10 April BC | |
| 2015 | 19 April | |
| 2016 | 2 April | |
| 2017 | 3 April | |
| 2018 | 24 April | |
| 2019 | 29 Mar | |
| 2020 | 10 April | |
| 2021 | 4 April | |
| 2022 | 16 April | |
| 2023 | 19 April | |
| 2024 | 13 April | |
| 2025 | 30th Mar | 1st Sept |
Butterfly Survey 1976-2025
Holly Blue female

wingspan: 28mm
The Holly Blue is common around holly and ivy in parks and gardens and is the first blue butterfly to emerge in the spring. In some years there is a second brood abundance of the little blue butterflies, when the UK populations are also reinforced by massive migration from the near continent.
Habit: The male butterfly is active and can be seen searching out the reticent females high in the tops of various large shrubs and small trees. It is often seen around ivy, one of its notable breeding plants. It also has a particular preference for damp, muddy pathways. These habits distinguish it from the common blue as a distnctly woodland butterfly
Double brooded, almost defying its name the butterfly does not just breed on holly, in fact eggs are found singly on the buds of several different host trees, dogwood and ivy being among the favourites. The eggs soon hatch, the larvae then feed for several weeks before pupation, butterflies emerging after three weeks. This cycle is interrupted for the overwintering larvae, which resume the cycle of development in the spring, the butterfly emerging, exceptionally in the survey area, as early as late March.
Status: not under threat
WH - White Hill Shoreham, BC - Bromley Common, Ha Hayes --BN-Bromley North BR-Bromley (All) Ey-Eynsford Orp- Orpington HE-High Elms JUPK -Jubilee Park, etc
© Rodney Compton, thanks also to David Davis and Howard Walmsley in particular for provideing records and comments