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

1 January—6 November

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13 of 764 reports

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Explore by area

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.

3 of 13 reports mapped · 3 areas

N ↑Argyll and Bute, Scotland · 1 report1Northumberland, England · 1 report2Lincolnshire, England · 1 report3

Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.

Mapped areas North to south

  1. Argyll and Bute, Scotland1 report
  2. Northumberland, England1 report
  3. Lincolnshire, England1 report

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. 22000
  2. 42001
  3. 12002
  4. 12003
  5. 32005
  6. 22006
  7. 52007
  8. 12008
  9. 32009
  10. 92010
  11. 132011
  12. 72012
  13. 152013
  14. 82014
  15. 82015
  16. 92016
  17. 282017
  18. 212018
  19. 142019
  20. 212020
  21. 182021
  22. 152022
  23. 362023
  24. 302024
  25. 2482025
  26. 2422026

Months in 2011

  1. 2Jan
  2. 0Feb
  3. 0Mar
  4. 2Apr
  5. 2May
  6. 2Jun
  7. 4Jul
  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. Donna Nook Lincolnshire, England
    Unidentified boatbirder — iNaturalist

    Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Grey seal

  2. Hove Beach near Hove Lagoon East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation June–July 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NewsSheet_july2011_.pdf

    A common seal pup was briefly on the beach at 16:45, returned to the sea, and later came ashore again and was located by a rescue team. Harbour seal

  3. Brighton Marina East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation June–July 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NewsSheet_july2011_.pdf

    Surfers reported a seal near Brighton Marina at about 09:00.

  4. Fionnphort Argyll and Bute, Scotland
    Unidentified bierdna — iNaturalist

    Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Grey seal

  5. Northumberland coast Northumberland, England
    Unidentified alexlees — iNaturalist

    Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as Atlantic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica). Grey seal

  6. Brighton Pier, moving west toward Hove East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation June–July 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NewsSheet_july2011_.pdf

    Workers on Brighton Pier reported a common seal close to shore, looking for a place to haul out before moving west toward Hove. Harbour seal

  7. Between Brighton Marina and Brighton Pier East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation June–July 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NewsSheet_july2011_.pdf

    A single common seal was recorded repeatedly at 10:00 and 21:00, less than 50 metres from shore. Harbour seal

  8. Off Worthing West Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation April–May 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Newsheet_May.pdf

    A grey seal was observed off the coast. Grey seal

  9. About 50 metres off Hove Beach East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation April–May 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Newsheet_May.pdf

    A common seal was seen about 50 metres offshore. Harbour seal

  10. Off Hove Beach East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation April–May 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Newsheet_May.pdf

    A common seal was seen a few metres from the beach; the report says it may have been Twinkle. Harbour seal

  11. Off Hove Beach East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation April–May 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Newsheet_May.pdf

    A common seal was seen a few metres from the beach; the report says it may have been Twinkle. Harbour seal

  12. Off Shoreham Beach West Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation Dec 2010–Mar 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NewsSheet_march.pdf

    A common seal was seen off Shoreham Beach. Harbour seal

  13. River Cuckmere East Sussex
    Unidentified Sea Watch Foundation Dec 2010–Mar 2011 news sheet — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NewsSheet_march.pdf

    A grey seal was recorded in the River Cuckmere. Grey seal