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

9 March—19 October

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4 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.

18 of 30 reports mapped · 5 areas

N ↑Great Cumbrae Island · 1 report1County Antrim, Northern Ireland · 1 report2Southend-on-Sea · 1 report3London · 2 reports4Dorset, England · 13 reports5

Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.

Mapped areas North to south

  1. Great Cumbrae Island1 report
  2. County Antrim, Northern Ireland1 report
  3. Southend-on-Sea1 report
  4. London2 reports
  5. Dorset, England13 reports

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. 12021
  2. 42024

Months in 2024

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

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

  1. River Thames bank opposite Canary Wharf, central London London, England
    Unidentified Metro, 19 October 2024 — https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/19/seal-spotted-sunbathing-central-london-21827328/

    A seal was seen playing in the Thames shallows and resting on a sandbank opposite Canary Wharf. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  2. River Thames near The Wharf restaurant, Teddington London, England
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 4 September 2024 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2024/09/04/another-seal-pays-a-visit-to-teddington/

    A seal was filmed in the river at 10:50am by a passer-by near The Wharf restaurant. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  3. River Thames near Thames Ditton Island, Teddington London, England
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 26 July 2024 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2024/07/26/new-sighting-of-seal-in-thames-near-teddington/

    A seal was seen swimming and diving in the Thames while a boat was delivered to Teddington. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  4. Pontoon at Hampton Sailing Club, River Thames London, England
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 9 March 2024 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2024/03/09/photo-special-sun-bathing-seal-on-the-thames-today/

    A large adult male grey seal rested on a pontoon, stretching and looking across the river as rowing teams passed. Grey seal · 1 seal