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

3 February—28 October

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16 of 764 reports

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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.

18 of 21 reports mapped · 3 areas

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Mapped areas North to south

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 2018

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

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

  1. Date:
    Place: Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table records two seals off Tilly Whim; species not specified.

  2. Date:
    Place: Off the Mile Markers, Durlston Dorset, England
    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.

  3. Date:
    Place: Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal.

  4. Date:
    Place: Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table records one seal off Tilly Whim; species not specified.

  5. Date:
    Place: Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal.

  6. Date:
    Place: Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    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.

  7. Date:
    Place: Durlston Bay, near the rocky shore Dorset, England
    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.

  8. Date:
    Place: Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 13:00.

  9. Date:
    Place: Blackers Hole, off the Mile Marker Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table records one seal off the Mile Marker; species not specified.

  10. Date:
    Place: Durlston Bay, among seaweed Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table records one seal among seaweed at noon; species not specified.

  11. Date:
    Place: Off the Durlston seabird colony Dorset, England
    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.

  12. Date:
    Place: Southbourne Beach Dorset, England
    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.

  13. Date:
    Place: Durlston Bay Dorset, England
    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.

  14. Date:
    Place: Off Tilly Whim, Durlston Dorset, England
    Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2018 table)

    Observation: The Durlston table records one seal; species not specified.

  15. 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.

  16. Date:
    Place: Warbarrow Bay, by the Lulworth Ranges Dorset, England
    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.