Bees in Washington in August

Yes, August is a good month to see bees in Washington. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 11,619 of the 82,015 sightings logged across the year (14.2%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Triepeolus saturninus photographed in WashingtonYellow-faced Bumble Bee photographed in WashingtonWestern Honey Bee photographed in Washington
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bees in Washington

14.2%

of yearly sightings

11,619

records in August

#4

busiest month of 12

82,015

verified records a year

July 20.4%, August 14.2%, September 6.3%. Busiest month is May at 21.8%.

Best months: May, June, JulyPeak season right now

82,015 verified observations of bees in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bees are recorded in Washington

Peak month

May

17,839 records (21.8% of the year)

Quietest month

December

65 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1030.1%
February3970.5%
March2,9713.6%
April8,0119.8%
Maypeak17,83921.8%
Junepeak17,55721.4%
Julypeak16,72220.4%
August11,61914.2%
September5,1526.3%
October1,4131.7%
November1660.2%
December650.1%

Bees you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Western Honey Bee6,996
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee5,277
Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee4,749
Black-tailed Bumble Bee4,534
Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee2,936
Orange-legged Furrow Bee1,633
California Bumble Bee1,096
Hunt's Bumble Bee996

In Washington, August carries 14.2% of the year's bees sightings, about 5.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from July (20.4%) into August, and it heads toward September (6.3%) after. The busiest month is May (21.8%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The bees most often recorded in Washington are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Fuzzy-Horned 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 Bee6,996 records
  • Yellow-faced Bumble Bee5,277 records
  • Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee4,749 records
  • Black-tailed Bumble Bee4,534 records
  • Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee2,936 records
  • Orange-legged Furrow Bee1,633 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your bee trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bees in Washington in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 11,619 of the 82,015 verified bees sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 14.2% of the annual total.

Is August a good time to see bees in Washington?+

August is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though May and June is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for bees in Washington?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and July, based on 82,015 verified observations.

Which bees are you most likely to see in Washington?+

The most-recorded species in Washington are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.