Seal spotted miles in-land in River Tyne at Ryton Willows Nature Reserve at Gateshead

A grey seal was spotted poking its head out of the River Tyne beside Ryton Willows Nature Reserve, Gateshead, before ducking back below the water and presumably swimming away.

And while some people may be scratching their heads at what a seal was doing so far inland, Richard Ilderton, volunteer team manager at Tynemouth Seal Hospital, which is based in Tynemouth Aquarium, says that it's much more common than people expect. He said: "Seals are normally and quite stereotypically viewed as living at the coast, but we get calls about seals as far up as Ryton and Newburn.

"I've had them up the Wear at Chester-le-Street, sometimes they just get in river and live their best lives. It's a good indication of how clean the Tyne has become."

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Richard also says that there's no need for people to be concerned if they see the blubbery creatures so far out of place. He continued: "It's a concern that they're n the wrong space, but ordinarily they're fine.

"They'll haul out at low tide and laze around on the mud flats. We've had seals on the wooden supports for the Swing Bridge, everyone think they're going to fall and hurt themselves but they just want to laze around - like when we want a Sunday snooze on the sofa."

A grey seal resting on the supports under the Swing Bridge (Martin Buckley)

Richard added: "The only real danger there’d be would be river traffic, if anyone’s got a boat and they’re going a bit too quick. There is a speed limit on the river and if you go too quick there’s a possibility they’ll be hit by a boat or a jet ski but they’re usually quite good at getting themselves out of the way."

Have you ever seen a seal on the River Tyne? Let us know!

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