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
15 January—15 November
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18 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.
15 of 18 reports mapped · 5 areas
Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.
Mapped areas North to south
- Great Cumbrae Island1 report
- North Somercotes1 report
- London6 reports
- Kent, England1 report
- Dorset, England6 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 datesSelect a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Months in 2021
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Ron Pasieczna — iNaturalist (rongoeswild)
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Teddington Nub News, 5 November 2021 — https://teddington.nub.news/news/local-news/sick-young-seal-discovered-by-teddington-lifeboat-crew
Observation: A sick young seal was found lying on the lifeboat launch ramp and later taken for specialist treatment.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal at 07:30; species and further details are unspecified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table reports one adult grey seal about 10 metres offshore at 19:50.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Calum McLennan — iNaturalist (calum_mclennan)
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified The Isle of Thanet News, 6 May 2021
Observation: reports one sub-adult seal, thought to be grey; seen hauled out before returning to sea.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table identifies one common seal, an adult male with a very dark head, at 08:30.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal surfacing at 15:20; observer described it as dark grey. Species not specified.
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Date:Reported: Bradley (observer-given name) KentOnline, 2 April 2021 — https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/seal-spotted-in-river-medway-244991/
Observation: Philip and Conan Anderson were walking by the river and filmed one seal at about 10:45 that morning. The report does not identify the species. Bradley is the name the observers gave the animal, not a verified individual identification.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table records one seal briefly surfacing; the observer described it as black. Species not specified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, public sighting (reported by bruno) — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/
Observation: ZSL description: The observer saw the animal’s body and head popping up but could not make out many features.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, public sighting (reported by Celine) — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/
Observation: The ZSL public map displayed 2 March 2021, this locality and a harbour-seal marker. The entry description was “Picture”; no photograph was reviewed or copied. Source classification is retained with uncertain confidence.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings (2021 table)
Observation: Durlston table describes one grey seal diving near Gully Mouth at 14:00.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, public sighting (reported by Will) — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/
Observation: ZSL description: Saw the seal swimming on the surface twice before diving underwater.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified poroderma — iNaturalist
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Daily Mail, 27 January 2021
Observation: The article reports one seal pup on the riverbank at about 13:30 on the previous day. RSPCA responders arrived after it had moved on.
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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.
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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.