United Kingdom · 2000—2026
Grey and harbour seals
Seals around the United Kingdom.
Follow public seal observations from the United Kingdom. Browse published records, explore the places and stories behind them, or share an encounter with the Seal Watch team.
- Total reports
- 764
- Latest observation
Public reports · newest first
Public records archive
15 July 2013—5 April 2026
Follow updates
Receive alerts for new public reports. Lock-screen alerts show only a broad area in the United Kingdom.
Checking notification support on this device…
95 of 764 reports
Loading public records…
Public records could not be loaded. Check your connection and try again.
Explore by area
All areasMarkers represent named areas, never exact sighting positions. Circle size reflects report counts; numbers match the area list. Select an area to filter the archive.
398 of 764 reports mapped · 27 areas
Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.
Mapped areas North to south
- Shetland, Scotland2 reports
- Caithness, Scotland1 report
- Peterhead1 report
- Aberdeenshire3 reports
- Highland, Scotland4 reports
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland1 report
- Oban North and Lorn Ward1 report
- East Lothian, Scotland1 report
- Great Cumbrae Island2 reports
- County Antrim, Northern Ireland3 reports
- Northumberland, England3 reports
- Seaton Sluice1 report
- County Down, Northern Ireland1 report
- Scarborough1 report
- Lincolnshire, England5 reports
- North Somercotes1 report
- Merseyside, England1 report
- Conwy, Wales1 report
- Gwynedd, Wales1 report
- Great Yarmouth coast1 report
- Norfolk, England3 reports
- Southend-on-Sea1 report
- London259 reports
- Kent, England2 reports
- Dorset, England95 reports
- Exeter1 report
- Cornwall, England2 reports
Areas without one map point
Broad country and coast labels, and places without a reviewed reference, remain filterable here.
- South West England178 reports
- South West England and Wales23 reports
- Scotland19 reports
- Dorset16 reports
- Worcestershire, England13 reports
- Aberdeenshire, Scotland11 reports
- East Sussex11 reports
- Cornwall6 reports
- Kent6 reports
- London, England5 reports
- Belfast, Northern Ireland4 reports
- Devon, England4 reports
- Surrey4 reports
- West Sussex4 reports
- Cardiff, Wales3 reports
- United Kingdom3 reports
- Brighton and Hove, England2 reports
- Cambridgeshire, England2 reports
- England2 reports
- Essex, England2 reports
- Glasgow, Scotland2 reports
- Gloucestershire, England2 reports
- Hampshire, England2 reports
- Orkney, Scotland2 reports
- Pembrokeshire, Wales2 reports
- Thames, London2 reports
- Wales2 reports
- West London2 reports
- Aberdeen City, Scotland1 report
- Anglesey, Wales1 report
- Angus, Scotland1 report
- Cambridgeshire1 report
- Ceredigion, Wales1 report
- Cheshire1 report
- County Londonderry, Northern Ireland1 report
- Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland1 report
- East Sussex, England1 report
- Edinburgh, Scotland1 report
- English Channel coast1 report
- Inverclyde, Scotland1 report
- Louth area1 report
- Maidstone, Kent1 report
- Mainland1 report
- Malling, Kent1 report
- North Ayrshire, Scotland1 report
- North East England1 report
- North Sea coast1 report
- Northamptonshire, England1 report
- Outer Hebrides, Scotland1 report
- Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England1 report
- Rotherhithe, London, England1 report
- Shetland1 report
- Suffolk, England1 report
- Surrey, England1 report
- Teddington and Twickenham, London, England1 report
- Thames Estuary, Essex1 report
- Twickenham, London, England1 report
- Tyne and Wear1 report
- West Dorset, England1 report
- York, North Yorkshire1 report
Map: Natural Earth.
Reports over time
Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2026 table) — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One Grey Seal was recorded off Tilly Whim.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2026 table) — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Two seals were recorded off Tilly Whim.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2026 table) — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One seal was recorded off Tilly Whim.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2026 table) — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One seal was recorded below the Lighthouse.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2026 table) — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One seal was recorded diving, catching and tossing a flatfish.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2026 table) — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One Common Seal was recorded off Dolphin Hut.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Studland Birder, 14 Aug 2024
Observation: eyewitness reports a common seal on Stone Island, identified by scope.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Studland Birder, 14 Aug 2024
Observation: eyewitness reports a second seal in the water, identified as grey.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Source describes the seal as hunting, 18:30–19:30.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records 2 seals at Off Durlston Globe on this date.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Source notes noon and photograph.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Source lists observation time as 07:00–15:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Swanage Bay, 100m off slipway on this date.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Durlston Bay on this date.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Observer listed as S. Titt.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Two seals were recorded offshore. Source time: 14:35.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One common seal was recorded; the source gives no further behaviour. Source time: 14:45.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One grey seal was recorded. Source time: 10:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One seal was recorded. Source time: 15:45.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One grey seal was recorded. Source time: 11:30.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One large seal was recorded close to the rocky shore. Source time: 13:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Two seals were recorded about 100 metres apart. Source time: 13:30.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: A grey seal sighting was recorded; the source lists the count as one or two. Source time: time not stated.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: One seal was recorded offshore. Source time: time not stated.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings
Observation: Two grey seals were recorded offshore. Source time: time not stated.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2022 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal in the bay and by the pier over several hours; species not specified. Count follows the single listed animal.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2022 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 13:30 at Chapman's Pool; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2022 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 07:30 at Ballard Down shoreline; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 07:30; species and further details are unspecified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table reports one adult grey seal about 10 metres offshore at 19:50.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one common seal, an adult male with a very dark head, at 08:30.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal surfacing at 15:20; observer described it as dark grey. Species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal briefly surfacing; the observer described it as black. Species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table describes one grey seal diving near Gully Mouth at 14:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal in Swanage Bay; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal surfacing and submerging over a 20-minute observation. It says grey, possibly speckled; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal near Ulwell Road, about 2 metres offshore; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal in the bay at Chapman's Pool.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal alongside a sunfish (the log says 1+1); only the seal is included here.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: The Durlston table lists one seal swimming close to shore. It describes the animal as grey and male but does not identify species.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: The Durlston table lists one seal at Hedbury Quarry at 17:00; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one grey seal at 11:15; described as swimming and surfacing with a long nose.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one grey seal; time is unspecified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one common seal; time and observer identification are uncertain in the log.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one common seal; photo noted in the source log.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one grey seal; time is unspecified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: Durlston table records two seals; species and time are unspecified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2020 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; species and time are unspecified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2019 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal off Tilly Whim.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2019 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal and marks “pup?” as uncertain; species and age are left unspecified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2019 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal off Tilly Whim.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2019 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal off Anvil Point; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2019 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal near the Swanage Bay outfall; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2019 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one grey seal watching climbers from the area labelled “subliminal”.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2019 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records three grey seals in the evening, described as one seal with two pups. This is one adult-and-pups encounter.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records two seals off Tilly Whim; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal at 13:00 off the Mile Markers; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal off Tilly Whim; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 16:05; the entry describes an observation of about five minutes.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal close to the rocky shore at 10:40.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 13:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal off the Mile Marker; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal among seaweed at noon; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies two grey seals, described as a male and female, seen from a boat in the evening.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal diving and surfacing about 10 metres offshore during a two-hour observation. The source says it appeared black; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal at 14:15 in Durlston Bay; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal in the waves off Tilly Whim / Gully Mouth at 14:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one deceased grey seal, estimated at 5–6 feet long, with a tan ring around the body.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal at 13:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 14:30.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; species and time not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal floating, diving and swimming; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal observed for 10 minutes at 19:00; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal that surfaced beside swimmers at 14:00.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal; time not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal that caught a fish and was observed for about 30 minutes; the observer notes movement from the stone jetty to Mowlem.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one stationary seal at 19:00 in Swanage Bay.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table's species cell reads “Grey Sea”; retained as one seal with species unspecified because the source label is incomplete.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records three seals at Dancing Ledge during the morning; puffins were also reported on the water.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at Winspit; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 11:00; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 11:00; species not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal; time not specified.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 13:20.
-
Date:Reported: Unidentified silversea_starsong — iNaturalist
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).