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

11 July 2022—24 February 2023

Reset filters

2 of 764 reports

Loading public records…

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.

398 of 764 reports mapped · 27 areas

Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.

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

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

  1. 12022
  2. 12023

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

  1. Date:
    Place: North Fambridge mud bank Essex, England
    Reported: Unidentified RSPB South East Essex Local Group, 24 February 2023

    Observation: The field log says the seal briefly came out of the water onto the mud bank during a 17:00–17:30 visit.

  2. Date:
    Place: Crouch Walk West, Fambridge Essex, England
    Reported: Unidentified RSPB South East Essex Local Group, 11 July 2022

    Observation: field log lists one Harbour Seal during Sue Lusk's 06:00–06:55 Fambridge walk.