Bees in California in August
Yes, August is a good month to see bees in California. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 34,004 of the 402,242 sightings logged across the year (8.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Good month for bees in California
8.5%
of yearly sightings
34,004
records in August
#6
busiest month of 12
402,242
verified records a year
July 11.8%, August 8.5%, September 6.1%. Busiest month is May at 18.4%.
402,242 verified observations of bees in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in California
Peak month
May
73,981 records (18.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 7,198 | 1.8% |
| February | 13,400 | 3.3% |
| March | 36,163 | 9% |
| Aprilpeak | 71,406 | 17.8% |
| Maypeak | 73,981 | 18.4% |
| Junepeak | 65,354 | 16.2% |
| July | 47,268 | 11.8% |
| August | 34,004 | 8.5% |
| September | 24,402 | 6.1% |
| October | 15,886 | 3.9% |
| November | 7,993 | 2% |
| December | 5,187 | 1.3% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Western Honey Bee | 90,989 |
| Yellow-faced Bumble Bee | 33,342 |
| Black-tailed Bumble Bee | 13,135 |
| Valley Carpenter Bee | 12,275 |
| Horse-fly Carpenter Bee | 8,900 |
| Tripartite Sweat Bee | 7,733 |
| Fine striped sweat bee | 6,112 |
| California Bumble Bee | 6,078 |
In California, August carries 8.5% of the year's bees sightings, about 0.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from July (11.8%) into August, and it heads toward September (6.1%) after. The busiest month is May (18.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The bees most often recorded in California are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Black-tailed Bumble Bee. Those counts are annual totals rather than a August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August itself.
Which bees you are most likely to see
- Western Honey Bee90,989 records
- Yellow-faced Bumble Bee33,342 records
- Black-tailed Bumble Bee13,135 records
- Valley Carpenter Bee12,275 records
- Horse-fly Carpenter Bee8,900 records
- Tripartite Sweat Bee7,733 records
Plan your bee trip in California
Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Alcatraz Island
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bee viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Alcatraz Island
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bee viewing area in California.
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Broader backupBook a bee tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bees in California in August?+
Yes. August accounts for 34,004 of the 402,242 verified bees sightings logged in California across the year, which is 8.5% of the annual total.
Is August a good time to see bees in California?+
August is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though May and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for bees in California?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 402,242 verified observations.
Which bees are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Black-tailed Bumble Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bees in California in other months
More wildlife in California