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

15 January—16 January

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2 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.

2 of 3 reports mapped · 1 area

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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. 12010
  2. 22013
  3. 12015
  4. 22016
  5. 12018
  6. 22019
  7. 62021
  8. 42022
  9. 22024
  10. 42025
  11. 2342026

Months in 2021

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

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

  1. Date:
    Reported: Unidentified South West Londoner, 18 January 2021 — https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/18012021-seal-sightings-in-richmond-and-twickenham-suggest-local-celeb-seal-is-back

    Observation: A seal was seen crossing Richmond Lock. The article raises, but does not establish, that it may have been the same seal seen by Marble Hill Park the previous day.

  2. Date:
    Reported: Unidentified South West Londoner, 18 January 2021 — https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/18012021-seal-sightings-in-richmond-and-twickenham-suggest-local-celeb-seal-is-back

    Observation: A seal was recorded in a video posted to a Twickenham community page. It was described in the local article as the possible returning “Twickerseal”, but identity is unconfirmed.