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.
- Total reports
- 764
- Latest observation
Public reports · newest first
Public records archive
10 January—24 November
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28 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.
22 of 28 reports mapped · 4 areas
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Map: Natural Earth.
Reports over time
All datesSelect a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Months in 2017
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: The Durlston table records one seal at 13:00.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified madsrj — iNaturalist
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as Atlantic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 14:30.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified RNLI Brighton, 4 September 2017 — https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2017/september/04/brighton-rnli-lifeboat-tasked-to-help-baby-seal
Observation: A seal pup was seen struggling to swim near the pier and was assisted by swimming-club members and responders.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; species and time not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal floating, diving and swimming; species not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal observed for 10 minutes at 19:00; species not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified dj3freebear — iNaturalist
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal that surfaced beside swimmers at 14:00.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal; time not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal that caught a fish and was observed for about 30 minutes; the observer notes movement from the stone jetty to Mowlem.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one stationary seal at 19:00 in Swanage Bay.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table's species cell reads “Grey Sea”; retained as one seal with species unspecified because the source label is incomplete.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records three seals at Dancing Ledge during the morning; puffins were also reported on the water.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal; time and further locality details not specified.
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Date:Reported: Pv003D SMRU report, 2017 — https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/12017/SSI_interim_report_2017.pdf
Observation: Photo-identified adult male harbour seal above the River Dee normal tidal limit.
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Date:Reported: Pv018D SMRU report, 2017 — https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/12017/SSI_interim_report_2017.pdf
Observation: Photo-identified juvenile female harbour seal above the River Dee normal tidal limit.
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Date:Reported: Pv018D SMRU report, 2017 — https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/12017/SSI_interim_report_2017.pdf
Observation: Juvenile female harbour seal Pv018D was seen feeding on a small unidentified prey item.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at Winspit; species not specified.
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Date:Reported: Pv003D SMRU report, 2017 — https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/12017/SSI_interim_report_2017.pdf
Observation: Adult male harbour seal Pv003D was photographed eating a salmon.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 11:00; species not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 11:00; species not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal; time not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified dbeadle — iNaturalist
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as harbour seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2017 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one grey seal at 13:20.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified The Courier, 11 January 2017 — https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/angus-mearns/346298/fur-flies-rights-wrongs-carnoustie-seal-pup-rescue/
Observation: A seal pup remained on the beach for several hours and was taken into care after a rescue response.