Birds were present throughout the year, but in the biggest numbers outside the summer months, when there were 13 specific reports of double-figure parties, and several more indicating unspecified abundance. The largest of these was a flock of at least 30 birds at Beaver Dyke Reservoir on 17th September. Only one garden record was received, from Baildon.

Based on behaviour, it was considered likely that breeding took place at Lindley Bridge and Strid Wood, and it certainly did at Otley Wetland, Thruscross, St. Ives, Marley Sewage Works, Harden Park and Luddenden Dean.

With 225 records, this was an extremely well-reported species, although only 10% of them related to the months of June, July and August. There were more double-figure counts than for several years, and the best of the 41 such reports was of 27 birds, presumably on autumn migration, in Denholme Clough on 21st October, and 20 birds were seen at Otley Wetland, Timble Ings, Dob Park, Bull Coppy Wood and Shibden Head.

Garden records also figured more predominantly than in 2005, and came from Ben Rhydding (where birds were regular), Otley, Gilstead and Cononley, which had good counts of 16 birds in November and December. Autumn visible migration reports appeared to be limited to Denholme Clough, already mentioned, and Paul Clough, where a seasonal total of 41 birds was logged.

Breeding was evident in Shipley Glen, St. Ives, Gallows Hill, Baildon Bank, Goit Stock and Otley Wetland, but juveniles with adults were seen at only the last four locations. Unaccompanied young birds were also noted at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits and near Otley.

There are still around 200 records of Long-tailed Tit, but, like Goldcrest, it is largely a winter visitor and migrant, as just 13 reports for June, July and August testify. Of 28 counts of double-figure gatherings, the best were 40 at Shibden Head, 28 at Timble Ings, 26 at Burley, and 20 at Dowley Gap. Quite a few of these parties were seen migrating in autumn, when Paul Clough recorded 38 birds in all and there were 25 through Denholme Clough.

The species seems to be increasingly attracted to gardens, although one Baildon observer commented it has taken 22 years for birds to visit his feeding station. Birds also attended another Baildon garden, as well as others in Ben Rhydding, Sconce, Dowley Gap, Thornton, Bolton, Riddlesden and Bingley, where birds were seen gathering nest material. They weren’t proved to breed there, nor at Baildon or Goit Stock, where nesting also took place, but did so at Knotford Nook and Strid Wood, and a presumed family party was seen at Timble Ings.

A relatively poor breeding season may be indicated by only six reports of juveniles in May and June, and by far fewer large parties, the only ones being 20 at Otley Wetland, 27 at Barden, and 30 at Lindley Wood.