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United Kingdom · observation

River Thames near Barnes Railway Bridge

· London

One seal was seen swimming near Barnes Railway Bridge; it surfaced once and then disappeared.

Species
Not recorded / not sure
Number of seals
1
Attributed name
Unidentified
Source
SWLondoner, “First seal sighting of 2022 in Barnes” (25 February 2022) — https://swlondoner.co.uk/life/25022022-first-seal-sighting-of-2022-in-barnes

About this record

Supporting evidence
SWLondoner quotes eyewitness Kristi Tange and embeds her dated post from 19 February 2022, 12:21 PM, showing a seal in the Thames at Barnes Rail Bridge. Tange says it surfaced at low tide and disappeared; the report says she submitted it to ZSL’s Thames Marine Mammal Map. Species is not specified.
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.

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Other reports with the same broad area or attributed name.

Under Tower Bridge

Observer description: Flat muzzle, dark shiny head.

Source: ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5828 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

HMS Belfast

Observer description: Observer submitted photographs; no written description of the animal was provided.

Source: ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5829 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

Thames dock boat

Observer description: Muzzle, rolled on its side

Source: ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5827 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

Creekmouth Open Space Barking, near the small Thames Barrier

Observer description: Long dog like snout. Dark brown colour. Head came above water before taking a deep breath and diving back down. Saw small amount of body whilst diving seemed quite large & in good condition

Source: ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5826 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/