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

6 January—18 November

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30 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.

18 of 30 reports mapped · 5 areas

N ↑Great Cumbrae Island · 1 report1County Antrim, Northern Ireland · 1 report2Southend-on-Sea · 1 report3London · 2 reports4Dorset, England · 13 reports5

Scroll the map sideways to explore the whole coast.

Mapped areas North to south

  1. Great Cumbrae Island1 report
  2. County Antrim, Northern Ireland1 report
  3. Southend-on-Sea1 report
  4. London2 reports
  5. Dorset, England13 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. 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 2024

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

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

  1. Louth area, England Louth area
    Unidentified sofiemayy22 — iNaturalist

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

  2. Rathlin Island shore; exact site unspecified County Antrim, Northern Ireland
    Unidentified Rathlin Stickybeak, 29 December 2024 — https://rathlinstickybeak.wordpress.com/2024/12/29/rathlin-grey-seal-pup-count-2024-our-highest-count-ever/

    A male grey seal with a green flipper tag was lying alone on the shore. The observer thought the tag code might be 039. Grey seal · 1 seal

  3. River Thames bank opposite Canary Wharf, central London London, England
    Unidentified Metro, 19 October 2024 — https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/19/seal-spotted-sunbathing-central-london-21827328/

    A seal was seen playing in the Thames shallows and resting on a sandbank opposite Canary Wharf. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  4. River Thames near The Wharf restaurant, Teddington London, England
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 4 September 2024 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2024/09/04/another-seal-pays-a-visit-to-teddington/

    A seal was filmed in the river at 10:50am by a passer-by near The Wharf restaurant. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  5. Stone Island, Poole Harbour Dorset, England
    Unidentified Studland Birder, 14 Aug 2024

    eyewitness reports a common seal on Stone Island, identified by scope. Harbour seal · 1 seal

  6. Stone Island, Poole Harbour Dorset, England
    Unidentified Studland Birder, 14 Aug 2024

    eyewitness reports a second seal in the water, identified as grey. Grey seal · 1 seal

  7. Stonehaven beach Aberdeenshire, Scotland
    Unidentified STV News, 14 August 2024 — https://news.stv.tv/north/police-probe-after-seal-pup-found-bleeding-on-beach-is-euthanised

    A young common seal pup was found on the beach and taken to a local veterinary practice; it was later euthanised after examination. Harbour seal · 1 seal

  8. River Thames at Limehouse London
    Unidentified r/london eyewitness video — https://www.reddit.com/r/london/comments/1ehbev0/

    The poster shared video of a seal surfacing at two points along the Thames in Limehouse. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  9. Poole Harbour Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Source describes the seal as hunting, 18:30–19:30. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  10. River Thames near Thames Ditton Island, Teddington London, England
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 26 July 2024 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2024/07/26/new-sighting-of-seal-in-thames-near-teddington/

    A seal was seen swimming and diving in the Thames while a boat was delivered to Teddington. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  11. Great Cumbrae Island, Isle Of Cumbrae, Scotland Great Cumbrae Island
    Unidentified divyamp — iNaturalist

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

  12. Beaulieu River Hampshire, England
    Unidentified Wild New Forest, September 2024 — https://www.wildnewforest.co.uk/post/september-2024-newsletter

    A freshly born common seal pup was observed on the river. Harbour seal · 1 seal

  13. Off Durlston Globe Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records 2 seals at Off Durlston Globe on this date. Species not recorded · 2 seals

  14. Swanage Lifeboat Slipway Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Source notes noon and photograph. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  15. Swanage Lifeboat Slipway Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Source lists observation time as 07:00–15:00. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  16. Swanage Bay, 100m off slipway Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Swanage Bay, 100m off slipway on this date. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  17. Tyne by the Shields Ferry north landing Tyne and Wear
    Unidentified ITV News Tyne Tees — https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2024-04-25/relaxing-grey-seal-delights-ferry-customers-on-morning-commute

    The seal was resting on the parapet by the ferry jetty during the morning; crew described it as a juvenile. Grey seal

  18. Tilly Whim Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  19. River Nene by Town Bridge, Peterborough Cambridgeshire, England
    Unidentified Peterborough Telegraph, 12 April 2024 — https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/seal-spotted-in-nene-near-peterboroughs-town-bridge-4588941

    One seal surfaced near a family feeding ducks by Town Bridge and was filmed before disappearing below the surface. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  20. Pontoon at Hampton Sailing Club, River Thames London, England
    Unidentified Teddington Town, 9 March 2024 — https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2024/03/09/photo-special-sun-bathing-seal-on-the-thames-today/

    A large adult male grey seal rested on a pontoon, stretching and looking across the river as rowing teams passed. Grey seal · 1 seal

  21. Tilly Whim Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date. Grey seal · 1 seal

  22. Southend-on-Sea, England Southend-on-Sea
    Unidentified Jon J. Laysell — iNaturalist (jarvo)

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

  23. Tilly Whim Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date. Grey seal · 1 seal

  24. Durlston Bay Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Durlston Bay on this date. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  25. Tilly Whim Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Durlston Country Park's Latest Sightings table records one seal at Tilly Whim on this date. Species not recorded · 1 seal

  26. Ragged Rocks Dorset, England
    Unidentified Durlston Country Park, Latest Sightings — https://www.durlston.co.uk/latest-sightings

    Observer listed as S. Titt. Grey seal · 1 seal

  27. River Thames by Radnor Gardens, Twickenham London
    Unidentified Twickenham Nub News — https://twickenham.nub.news/news/local-news/seal-spotted-in-the-river-thames-in-twickenham-217279

    The observer reported a grey seal gently bobbing and snorting at the surface before disappearing. Grey seal

  28. River Nene near Tansor (TL051911) Northamptonshire, England
    Unidentified Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre, 5 April 2024

    Samuel Wallace reported seeing one seal here on 15 Jan 2024; the source believed it was a common seal. Harbour seal · 1 seal

  29. St Ninian's Isle beach Shetland
    Lulu STV News — https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/shetland-animal-sanctuary-rescues-tiniest-seal-pup-after-being-found-injured-on-beach-pecked-at-by-birds

    One seal pup found by a beach walker; later named Lulu by Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary. Grey seal · 1 seal

  30. Beaulieu River Hampshire, England
    Unidentified Wild New Forest, September 2024 — https://www.wildnewforest.co.uk/post/september-2024-newsletter

    A freshly born grey seal pup was found on the river suckling from its mother. Grey seal · 2 seals