seal.watch / uk

United Kingdom · public record

← Back to the archive

United Kingdom · observation

Swale between Queenborough Harbour and the Sheppey Crossing

· Kent

Observer description: A seal surfaced near the kayaks, then continued swimming alongside them and intermittently breaking the surface for about half a mile on the return to the harbour.

Species
Not recorded / not sure
Number of seals
Not recorded
Attributed name
Unidentified
Source
ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey public sightings map — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/ (reported by Chris)

About this record

Supporting evidence
ZSL public map popup displayed 19-09-2014 and this Swale locality. The narrative explicitly described a seal. The matching marker classification could not be independently reconciled with the popup in this overlapping map area, so structured species is left unset; the resurfacing is retained as one encounter, with no count or identity inferred.
Identification confidence
Uncertain
Editorial status
Published by Seal Watch.

Source wording, attributed names and approximate date labels are preserved. A published report does not establish a verified animal identity.

Share this observation

Other reports with the same broad area or attributed name.

Off Dungeness

Two harbour seals were reported bottling (sleeping in the water) between 10:30 and 11:00.

Source: Sea Watch Foundation field report — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/national-whale-and-dolphin-watch-day-1-2-29th-30th-july/

Off Dungeness, heading east

A grey seal was reported heading east from Dungeness.

Source: Sea Watch Foundation field report — https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/national-whale-and-dolphin-watch-day-1-2-29th-30th-july/

Goodwin Sands (Goodwin Knoll)

The observer described one large, dark seal with a long snout and no visible white facial markings.

Source: ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey public sightings map — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/ (reported by BenMann)

Goodwin Sands (S Kellett Gut)

Two public-map entries by separate observers report 10 harbour seals and no grey seals at 08:17 at this locality. One entry says photographs were attached; they were not reviewed.

Source: ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey public sightings map — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/ (reported by PacificUnderseaGardens and Richard-Spink)