We are going on a journey to a place that is truly unique on the map of Poland. We are, of course, talking about the picturesque Sobieszewska Island, such a real treasure on the Baltic coast, you know? It is here, in natural conditions, that a large colony of wild seals has made its home. An encounter with these fascinating mammals is something you never forget, an experience we want to bring you closer. So get ready to discover a piece of the extraordinary world of Baltic fauna, where the seal feels at home and nature, well, it can delight you at every, literally every turn.

The world of Baltic seals on an island

The world of Baltic seals is, there is no denying it, full of mystery and fascinating, often surprising habits. These clever marine mammals, although they can sometimes be shy to the point of pain, can provide observers with plenty, but plenty of joy. On the Isle of Sobieszewo, you have a unique, even exceptional opportunity to see them in their natural environment. It is in fact the only such area in Poland where we can admire such a large colony of wild seals, which makes this place, well, a must-see for anyone who loves nature even a little bit.

The seals that can most often be spotted here are mainly grey seals. They are characterised by their larger size and such a straight head profile, which distinguishes them from common seals, which are much rarer on our Polish Baltic coast. Grey seals also seem to be more sociable, and are often seen lounging in groups on sandbanks. Naturalists from the University of Gdansk have observed a record number of these animals in this area, or rather on the shoals of the Vistula estuary, which probably best proves how unique this place is for the entire Baltic seal population.

Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve: an oasis of biodiversity

Sobieszewo Island is, of course, not only about seals, but first and foremost, and perhaps more importantly, a unique ecosystem that has been created thanks to the natural processes shaping the estuary of the Queen of Polish rivers, the Vistula. It is such a mosaic of different habitats – from wide, sandy beaches and dunes, through forests, meadows, to marshes and shallow, calm waters. This sheer diversity makes the Island home to an incredible wealth of plant and animal species, making it one of the most valuable natural areas on the Polish Baltic Sea. Isn’t it fascinating that we have such a natural treasure so close to a large city?

The Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve, on the other hand, is a true paradise, such a safe haven for both birds and seals. It lies on the eastern end of the island, practically right next to the Vistula Spit, and interestingly enough, it covers both banks of the spit. The reserve was established mainly to protect breeding colonies of terns, waders and shelduck birds, but over time it has also become a key, almost indispensable resting and breeding site for Baltic seals. Its extensive sandbanks are simply ideal for seals, who love to lounge there in the sun.

The biodiversity of the Gull’s Lacha is, frankly, impressive, able to surprise even experienced observers. Birds migrating all the way from Siberia can be found there, such as the dunlin, as well as countless gulls, oystercatchers, cormorants, majestic swans, red-breasted mergansers, little ringed plovers, ringed plovers, common pochards, goldeneyes and tufted ducks. For the Arctic tern, the Vistula estuary is the only known breeding site in Poland, come to think of it. What’s more, there is the highest concentration of Lesser Black-backed Gull in the whole of Europe. But the reserve is not only about birds, it is also home to many other animal species, and interestingly, with a bit of luck, you can even spot a white-tailed eagle circling above the water. Along the Vistula River, walking along the path on the way to the reserve, you also happen to see beavers, sometimes even a whole family, which is really lovely.

What is the best way to observe seals? Practical tips

Watching seals is, as I mentioned, an unforgettable experience, but it requires, well, proper preparation and, above all, respect for wildlife. Let’s remember that, at this point, we are the guests in their, meaning the seals’, home. There are basically two main, proven methods of observing seals on the Isle of Sobieszewo: either you decide to take a cruise or choose to observe from the shore.

From the harbour in Świbno, such a small town very close to the Vistula Spit, boats and fishing boats regularly go out on cruises to the Vistula estuary. This is a great option, in my opinion, to see seals lounging on sandy shoals from a slightly closer, but still safe distance. Such a cruise, dedicated to seal and bird watching, allows you to admire the animals without disturbing them, while offering truly unforgettable views of the reserve viewed from the water. Although it must be said that, depending on the tides and the weather, visibility can vary.

If you prefer to stay on land, the Mewia Łacha nature reserve is most easily reached by heading along the Vistula River. If you came by car, you can leave it at the car park next to the harbour in Świbno. A designated, well-marked educational and informational path leading through the reserve presents its most important natural attractions. We particularly recommend climbing the observation tower, which offers an excellent view of the entire Vistula estuary and those famous sandbanks. It is from this tower that educational meetings are often held with ornithologists who, as one local observer puts it, “have a head full of bird stories” and are happy to share their vast knowledge of local fauna.

A visit to the Isle of Sobieszewo: planning your trip

When planning a visit to the Isle of Sobieszewo, it is worth, and even necessary, to take a few practical matters into account so that you can fully enjoy this unusual, because such a truly wild, place. Remember that the Isle of Sobieszewo is formally part of the city of Gdansk, which, on the one hand, makes it easy to get to, but on the other hand, the multitude of attractions means that one day may simply not be enough to see everything this place has to offer.

Getting to Sobieszewo Island from the centre of Gdańsk is generally relatively easy. You can arrive in your own car, and there are several car parks available on site, for example in the area of Świbnieńska Street or Boguckiego Street, especially if your main goal is to walk towards the Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve. And actually, it is also possible to get there by public transport, which may be a more convenient option for some, although it can be time-consuming.

On the Sobieszewska Island, apart from Mewia Łacha, there is another nature reserve – Ptasim Raj (Bird Paradise), which, as the name suggests, is also a real paradise for many species of water and mud birds. After visiting the Bird Paradise, which I highly recommend, you absolutely must see the other, equally important reserve of the Sobieszewo Island – Mewia Łacha. Following the path along the Vistula River on the way to Mewia Łacha, you will pass such a wooden viewing platform located on a small, charming lake that is home to many species of birds and, as I have already mentioned, a family of beavers. A sandy path cut through the dunes, often strewn with sand, will eventually lead you to the seashore itself, where you can simply sit back, relax, admire the boundless landscape or, if you are lucky, search for amber. Sobieszewo Island itself, apart from the reserves, also offers picturesque, not too crowded beaches and plenty of nature trails, ideal for long walks, bike rides and, of course, observing the surrounding nature. If you’re looking for a place to stay, we just happened to choose such charming wooden cottages scattered around the island, which was a great base.

Seals and humans: a delicate balance of coexistence

The coexistence of humans and seals in the Baltic Sea is a subject that requires thought, a delicate balance that is easy to upset. On the one hand, the opportunity to observe these amazing animals, sometimes from a really short distance (although always safe for them!), provides us humans with a lot of joy and allows us to appreciate how rich and diverse Polish nature is, that it is not only forests and mountains. On the other hand, however, our human activity poses serious threats to the seals, especially in such a specific place as an estuary. Our presence on the beaches, increased boat and ship traffic, or simply the pollution of the waters, unfortunately have a direct impact on their lives, on their survival. Awareness of these challenges is crucial if we want to ensure that the Baltic fauna, and in particular the seals, have a chance of survival.

Human activity unfortunately brings with it many threats to seals that we sometimes do not think about on a daily basis. These are, first and foremost, accidental entanglement in fishing nets, because seals, well, eat fish, collisions with ships, which can be fatal for them, pollution of the sea, including all those chemicals and ubiquitous plastic, but also, what seems simple but is crucial, disturbing them in places where they try to rest, especially during the hot tourist season. Too close human presence, loud behaviour, all of this can stress seals, lead to mothers abandoning their young, or simply prevent them from much-needed recuperation on land after intense hunting in the sea.

Protecting seals in the Baltic Sea is, it must be made clear, a joint effort by many parties: scientists who carry out research, non-governmental organisations that often act with passion and dedication, and state institutions. Actions taken for their survival include, for example, population monitoring, attempts to rescue injured or sick animals. But crucial, absolutely crucial, is the creation and effective protection of nature reserves, such as precisely Mewia Łacha, where seals can feel relatively safe, rest and raise their young. It is important, equally important, to educate the public – so that we know why these animals are valuable, how not to harm them and how to observe them in a way that will not be a nuisance to them.

The life of seals: fascinating facts

The life of seals is, for me at least, full of fascinating and sometimes surprising moments. These mammals, even perfectly adapted to life in the water – just think of their streamlined shape and ability to dive! – spend most of their time hunting and come ashore mainly to, well, rest, bask in the sun because they need it too, undergo moulting or, most importantly, give birth and feed their young. Understanding their habits, how they function, allows a much better appreciation of the role these animals play in the complex ecosystem of the Baltic Sea.

So how do seals live? Mainly in the water, where they hunt because they need to eat something, mainly fish, and they are excellent at this, swimmers and divers by all accounts. On land, they often choose sandy shoals, especially those at the mouth of the Vistula River, they come out to, as I mentioned, rest and take care of their fur. The life cycle of seals includes a mating period that takes place in the water, followed by pregnancy and birth on land, then intensive feeding of the young, and finally the return, both of the mother and the sub-adult young, to life in the sea. Their life is very closely linked to the natural cycle of the seasons, to what happens in nature.

Seals living in the Baltic face, unfortunately, various threats, which makes their lives more difficult. Natural predators, especially for young, inexperienced seals, can be larger marine animals, although in the Baltic the list of such is quite short, or, although this is rare, eagles, which may try to hunt the young on land. But, let’s be honest, the biggest, most acute threats to seals come directly from our, human, activities: entanglement in those unfortunate fishing nets, pollution of the environment in which they live, diseases that we humans sometimes transmit to them, or simply, as I said, disturbing them in places where they are trying, simply, to rest. In order to be able to see and admire the seals, we must, and this is probably the most important rule, remember to keep an appropriate, safe distance, for their sake.

Wyspa Sobieszewska: a paradise for nature and photography lovers

If you love nature, the wild kind, and you are passionate about photography, then the Isle of Sobieszewo, I am convinced, will certainly delight and inspire you. The picturesque landscapes which change depending on the season and the weather, the abundance of bird species which you can observe for hours, and of course the possibility of meeting and spotting those amazing seals – all this creates ideal conditions for developing these, sometimes demanding, passions. It is a place where practically every frame, every photograph taken, can tell its own, extraordinary story about life on the Baltic Sea, about this Baltic nature, which is not always easy.

When is the best time to go to Sobieszewo Island to have the best chance of seeing the seals? The best times to observe them are usually late autumn, winter and early spring. This is when larger flocks gather on the sandbanks at the mouth of the Vistula River, lounging in the sun. In the warmer season, summer, the seals are more dispersed and harder to spot in larger groups. During the day, seals lounging on shoals, because it is on land that they are best observed, are easiest to see during the day, especially, well, in sunny weather, when they come ashore to simply bask, to gain strength before their next hunt. The spring and summer season, on the other hand, is, remember, the breeding season for birds, and this is when there is often an ornithological camp on the reserve, and members of the research group are engaged in wildlife conservation and bird ringing, which is also fascinating, although it may require more caution on our part not to disturb them. And actually, it’s worth remembering that the weather at the seaside can be capricious, so even in the ‘good’ season, it can be difficult.

Photographing seals, it should be noted, requires above all patience, and the right, sometimes expensive, equipment, preferably a telephoto lens. The idea is to be able to keep a safe, for the animals in particular, distance while still getting good shots. The key to successful photography, and really successful photography, is discretion – avoid sudden movements, unnecessary noise, anything that might frighten these, after all, wild animals. Remember the rules of the reserve and under no circumstances enter strictly protected areas, bird breeding grounds or seal resting places. Focus on capturing the natural behaviour of the seals, the way they live and the beauty of the surrounding nature, and your photos will not only be a great souvenir of your trip, but also a visual testimony of this precious and unique ecosystem of the Sobieszewo Island.

A Journey across the Isle of Sobieszewo: from the Vistula Estuary to the Beaches

An expedition to the Isle of Sobieszewo is, it is worth emphasising, not only a hunt for seals with a lens or binoculars, but a whole adventure, such an active discovery of the diversity of landscapes and the immense wealth of nature, which lives its own life there on the island. You can spend a whole day here, or even, what I highly recommend, a whole weekend, just wandering, observing, absorbing this specific, seaside atmosphere of this unique place on the Baltic. Is there anything better than the sound of waves and birdsong at the same time?

A walk along the nature trail in the Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve along the Vistula River is, in my opinion, a perfect way to get to know the area and its secrets. The educational and informational trail leads through different, often very different habitats, allowing you to see both numerous bird species and, if you have a keen eye, traces of other animals such as beavers. You can admire the picturesque, changing estuary of the Vistula River, those vast sandbanks where, as you already know, seals often lounge, as well as unique plant species that, interestingly enough, can survive and live in these harsh coastal conditions.

The Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve is, it is worth remembering, a real Mecca for bird lovers. The wealth of species that can be found there is simply astounding, even unbelievable, and the unique observation opportunities attract ornithologists and enthusiasts from all over Poland and even Europe. From the observation tower, you have a real chance to see hundreds and sometimes even thousands of birds at once, especially during the intense spring and autumn migrations. You can admire the already mentioned Arctic tern, which, as a reminder, has the only known breeding site in Poland, or the Lesser Black-backed Gull, which occurs here in the highest concentration in the whole of Europe, which is, in my opinion, something extraordinary. It is an experience that, without a doubt, will enrich your knowledge of Baltic nature and open your eyes to its hidden beauty.

Our personal excursion to the Sobieszewo Island was, I must admit, full of impressions, sometimes surprising ones. We planned it in such a way that we walked back along the wide beach towards our cottages (entrance number 19), ending the whole trip more or less at entrance number 7, if I remember correctly. We then returned through such a picturesque, pine-scented forest, and we were taken to the cottages themselves by car by Marek, a friend of ours who accompanied us on this natural adventure, which was a nice touch. This shows just how diverse and truly worth discovering this island is – from this wild estuary of the Vistula, to the precious reserves, to the wide sandy beaches and undulating dunes. Whether you are a keen ornithologist who can recognise a bird by its voice, an ambitious photographer looking for the perfect frame, or simply looking for a moment of peace and true contact with wild, untamed nature, Sobieszewo Island, I am sure, will enchant you.