Dragonflies in Washington in September

Yes, September is a good month to see dragonflies in Washington. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 2,476 of the 24,906 sightings logged across the year (9.9%), 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.

Good month for dragonflies in Washington

9.9%

of yearly sightings

2,476

records in September

#5

busiest month of 12

24,906

verified records a year

August 19.6%, September 9.9%, October 3.9%. 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, September carries 9.9% of the year's dragonflies sightings, about 1.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from August (19.6%) into September, and it heads toward October (3.9%) after. The busiest month is July (28.1%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The dragonflies most often recorded in Washington are Pacific Forktail, Eight-spotted Skimmer and Blue Dasher. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September 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 September?+

Yes. September accounts for 2,476 of the 24,906 verified dragonflies sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 9.9% of the annual total.

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

September is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though July and June is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

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.