SEALS from distant shores have visited Cornwall this year, arriving from all directions.

Surveys carried out by the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust (CSGRT) have shown that the mammals have come to the county from as far afield as Ireland and Holland.

Sue Sayer, of the trust, said: "Even after 20 years of research, our seals continue to tell new stories about their movements and behaviour. We need these globally rare marine mammals to positively regulate a balanced and healthy oceanic ecosystem to ensure a thriving economy for us all."

On March 25 on one routine survey in west Cornwall, there were seals previously identified in England, France, Wales and Ireland.

It was the first day that the group knowingly had a seal from Ireland - a rehabilitated juvenile male grey seal from Seal Rescue Ireland.

Jeshua Taucher, from Seal Rescue Ireland, said: "Our team was ecstatic to hear that CSGRT had documented one of our recently released pups in Cornwall. Seals are incredibly mobile creatures and this sighting has sparked the beginning of a promising collaboration between our organisations. It is fantastic to know there are eyes on the coast caring for our native seals."

Later in the year, the group had a surprising discovery from grey seal photos that were sent by Lara Howe, of the Manx Wildlife Trust.

Isle of Man (IOM) seal number 079 turned out to be a seal the trust has known in Cornwall since 2001.

Amazingly this adult female has commuted between Cornwall and the IOM multiple times, as she has had four pups on Manx territory.

Just recently, kayaker Rupert Kirkwood, sent in photos of a common seal hauled out in the River Fowey.

A seal with an unfamiliar tag meant some detective work was required with various rehab organisations.

Fortunately, the Seal Rescue ‘WhatsApp’ group came up trumps and within minutes the seal had been identified as Micky. Incredibly this young male seal had only been released in Holland on October 3 and by November 5, had swum to Cornwall, 660km away.

Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust is a marine conservation charity conducting research aimed at putting grey seals on everyone’s agenda by giving seals a voice and inspiring people to learn more about this UK globally rare species.

In one year its 250-plus volunteer citizen scientists process more than 100,000 photos for individual seal identifications.

To learn more about Cornwall’s seals visit www.cornwallsealgroup.co.uk or @CornwallSealGroupResearchTrust on facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

To support our work, please visit our online shop www.sealresearchtrust.com