New England High Tide Tables
Expand your knowledge and increase your enjoyment of the wild birds of New England.
Here is the 2024 High Tide Table for Boston (available to subscribers), ready to print and use throughout the year. The table was generously funded by Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift.
About the Tides
When to check the tides
- Birds that feed and roost on the rocks, sandbars, beaches, mudflats, and marshes at the ocean’s edge move from place to place depending upon the level of the tidal waters.
- The rate at which tide water rises and falls is not constant throughout the period between high and low tide. The rule of thumb is that during the first 1.5 hours after high tide, the water level falls by about 15% of its total range; during the next 3 hours, the level falls by 70% of its range; and during the 1.5 hours before low tide, the level falls by the last 15% of its range.
- For good viewing of shorebirds, try to be at intertidal feeding spots as the areas become revealed by a falling tide. This gives the viewer a chance to examine the birds as they fly in and the leisure to watch the birds as they move farther and farther out on the growing expanse of exposed flats. For example, a general rule for birding the popular Joppa Flats in Newburyport Harbor is to arrive 4 to 4.5 hours after Boston high tide. If this is not possible, try to arrive 3 to 4.5 hours before Boston high tide. The falling tide gives better viewing conditions.
- One of the best ways to see elusive marsh birds (rails, bitterns) is to visit tidal marshes at the highest tides. Counting sea ducks along the coast is easiest when the tide is high.
High and low tide
During the lunar cycle of about 28 days, the moon is overhead a given spot about 50 minutes later each day. Each high tide is followed about 6 hours and 12 minutes later by a low tide. The low tide is followed about 6 hours and 12 minutes later by the next high tide. For Boston, the average rise and fall is 9.5 feet, but the tidal range can vary from about 5.5 feet to 14.3 feet.
Tidal range variations
In general, the lineup of the sun, moon, and earth (new moon and full moon) produces the highest tides of the lunar month. The highest tides occur when the new or full moon is nearest the earth. A higher than average high tide will be followed by a lower than average low tide.
Weather
Weather affects the predicted tidal times and ranges. When the winds are onshore and/or the barometric pressure is lower than normal, the tides will be diminished and earlier. During extreme weather conditions, the results can be flooding and very strong currents.