Dragonflies in Washington in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see dragonflies in Washington. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 4,892 of the 24,906 sightings logged across the year (19.6%), 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 July 2, 2026.

Peak month for dragonflies in Washington

19.6%

of yearly sightings

4,892

records in August

#3

busiest month of 12

24,906

verified records a year

July 28.1%, August 19.6%, September 9.9%. Busiest month is July at 28.1%.

Best months: July, June, AugustPeak season right now

24,906 verified observations of dragonflies in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dragonflies are recorded in Washington

Peak month

July

6,988 records (28.1% of the year)

Quietest month

February

6 records

MonthObservationsShare
January90%
February60%
March280.1%
April5812.3%
May3,25213.1%
Junepeak5,55322.3%
Julypeak6,98828.1%
Augustpeak4,89219.6%
September2,4769.9%
October9793.9%
November1290.5%
December130.1%

Dragonflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Pacific Forktail2,598
Eight-spotted Skimmer2,046
Blue Dasher1,490
Tule Bluet1,166
Cardinal Meadowhawk1,109
Striped Meadowhawk1,049
Blue-eyed Darner964
Western Pondhawk868

In Washington, August carries 19.6% of the year's dragonflies sightings, about 11.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from July (28.1%) into August, and it heads toward September (9.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so August is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The dragonflies most often recorded in Washington are Pacific Forktail, Eight-spotted Skimmer and Blue Dasher. 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 dragonflies you are most likely to see

  • Pacific Forktail2,598 records
  • Eight-spotted Skimmer2,046 records
  • Blue Dasher1,490 records
  • Tule Bluet1,166 records
  • Cardinal Meadowhawk1,109 records
  • Striped Meadowhawk1,049 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your dragonfly 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 dragonflies in Washington in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 4,892 of the 24,906 verified dragonflies sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 19.6% of the annual total.

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

August is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, June and August.

What month is best for dragonflies in Washington?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, June and August, based on 24,906 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Washington are Pacific Forktail, Eight-spotted Skimmer and Blue Dasher, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.