Herons in Washington in July
Yes, July is a good month to see herons in Washington. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 1,718 of the 17,842 sightings logged across the year (9.6%), 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 July 2, 2026.
Good month for herons in Washington
9.6%
of yearly sightings
1,718
records in July
#4
busiest month of 12
17,842
verified records a year
June 11.6%, July 9.6%, August 8.9%. Busiest month is May at 12.7%.
17,842 verified observations of herons in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When herons are recorded in Washington
Peak month
May
2,258 records (12.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,137 | 6.4% |
| February | 1,076 | 6% |
| March | 1,360 | 7.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,052 | 11.5% |
| Maypeak | 2,258 | 12.7% |
| Junepeak | 2,070 | 11.6% |
| July | 1,718 | 9.6% |
| August | 1,594 | 8.9% |
| September | 1,416 | 7.9% |
| October | 1,185 | 6.6% |
| November | 994 | 5.6% |
| December | 982 | 5.5% |
Herons you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Blue Heron | 15,890 |
| Great Egret | 828 |
| Green Heron | 485 |
| American Bittern | 398 |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | 180 |
| Snowy Egret | 13 |
| Little Blue Heron | 11 |
| Western Cattle-Egret | 4 |
In Washington, July carries 9.6% of the year's herons sightings, about 1.3 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 June (11.6%) into July, and it heads toward August (8.9%) after. The busiest month is May (12.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The herons most often recorded in Washington are Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Green Heron. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.
Which herons you are most likely to see
- Great Blue Heron15,890 records
- Great Egret828 records
- Green Heron485 records
- American Bittern398 records
- Black-crowned Night Heron180 records
- Snowy Egret13 records
Plan your heron 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.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main heron viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best heron viewing area in Washington.
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Broader backupBook a heron tour in Washington
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see herons in Washington in July?+
Yes. July accounts for 1,718 of the 17,842 verified herons sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 9.6% of the annual total.
Is July a good time to see herons in Washington?+
July 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 herons in Washington?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 17,842 verified observations.
Which herons are you most likely to see in Washington?+
The most-recorded species in Washington are Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Green Heron, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See herons in Washington in other months
More places to see herons
More wildlife in Washington