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

28 January—19 May

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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.

6 of 248 reports mapped · 3 areas

N ↑Peterhead · 1 report1County Antrim, Northern Ireland · 1 report2London · 4 reports3

Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.

Mapped areas North to south

  1. Peterhead1 report
  2. County Antrim, Northern Ireland1 report
  3. London4 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. 12010
  2. 22013
  3. 12015
  4. 22016
  5. 12018
  6. 22019
  7. 62021
  8. 42022
  9. 22024
  10. 42025
  11. 2342026

Months in 2025

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

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

  1. Near Hampton Court Bridge, River Thames London
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 20 May 2025 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2025/05/20/sunbathing-seal-on-the-shore-near-hampton-court/

    One seal was reported sunbathing on the shore near Hampton Court Bridge. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  2. Near Trowlock Island, Teddington London
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 26 March 2025 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2025/03/26/its-seal-spotting-season-in-teddington/

    A seal was photographed sunning near Trowlock Island and filmed returning to the water. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  3. River Thames near Mallard Place, Teddington London
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 26 March 2025 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2025/03/26/its-seal-spotting-season-in-teddington/

    A seal was seen in the Thames near Mallard Place; the local article identifies 21 March as the date of the accompanying sighting image. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  4. Rotherhithe Beach London
    Unidentified Southwark News, 30 January 2025 — https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/rotherhithe/dead-seal-found-washed-up-on-rotherhithe-beach/

    One decomposing seal carcass was discovered; it had been there for some time. Species not recorded · 1 seal