seal.watch / uk

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.

Meet the grey seal → · Meet the harbour seal →

Total reports
764
Latest observation

Public reports · newest first

Public records archive

1 February—24 November

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19 of 764 reports

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Explore by area

All areas

Markers represent named areas, never exact sighting positions. Circle size reflects report counts; numbers match the area list. Select an area to filter the archive.

22 of 28 reports mapped · 4 areas

N ↑Norfolk, England · 1 report1Kent, England · 1 report2Dorset, England · 19 reports3Cornwall, England · 1 report4

Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.

Mapped areas North to south

  1. Norfolk, England1 report
  2. Kent, England1 report
  3. Dorset, England19 reports
  4. Cornwall, England1 report

Areas without one map point

Broad country and coast labels, and places without a reviewed reference, remain filterable here.

Map: Natural Earth.

Reports over time

All dates

Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.

  1. 12013
  2. 192017
  3. 162018
  4. 72019
  5. 142020
  6. 62021
  7. 32022
  8. 102023
  9. 132024
  10. 62026

Months in 2017

  1. 0Jan
  2. 4Feb
  3. 1Mar
  4. 0Apr
  5. 5May
  6. 2Jun
  7. 3Jul
  8. 2Aug
  9. 1Sep
  10. 0Oct
  11. 1Nov
  12. 0Dec

Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.

  1. Off Gully Mouth, Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    The Durlston table records one seal at 13:00. Grey seal · 1 seal

  2. Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 14:30. Grey seal · 1 seal

  3. From the Dolphin Hut, Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal; species and time not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  4. Swanage, seen from Ballard Down Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal floating, diving and swimming; species not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  5. Southbourne Beach, just off the groynes Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal observed for 10 minutes at 19:00; species not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  6. Solent Point Beach, Southbourne Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table identifies one grey seal that surfaced beside swimmers at 14:00. Grey seal · 1 seal

  7. Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table identifies one grey seal; time not specified. Grey seal · 1 seal

  8. Swanage Bay, off the stone jetty toward Mowlem Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    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. Grey seal · 1 seal

  9. Peveril Point, Swanage Bay Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one stationary seal at 19:00 in Swanage Bay. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  10. Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  11. Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table's species cell reads “Grey Sea”; retained as one seal with species unspecified because the source label is incomplete. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  12. Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  13. Dancing Ledge, Purbeck Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records three seals at Dancing Ledge during the morning; puffins were also reported on the water. Species not recorded · 3 seals

  14. Durlston Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  15. Winspit, Purbeck Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal at Winspit; species not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  16. Durlston, Observation Point Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal at 11:00; species not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  17. Durlston, Tilly Whim Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table records one seal at 11:00; species not specified. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  18. Durlston, Tilly Whim Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table identifies one grey seal; time not specified. Grey seal · 1 seal

  19. Durlston, Tilly Whim Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)

    Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 13:20. Grey seal · 1 seal