Postby Bird320 » Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:49 am
Utilize Google Maps. Look for areas around you that are 1) public property and 2) are marshy/swampy/river-y. Are you in the US? Your state's DNR might own land that is not on maps (but is still public property) This is the case here in Wisconsin by me. Once you have a list of areas, pick some and go explore. Remember that rainfall might cause good mud to be covered by water so I would go explore only when water levels have receded. Keep a log of places you check out with dates, locations, mud status, etc. for future reference. If you bring a GPS and mark down/"waypoint" good areas you can pull those into a mapping program and develop a pretty good system for location management.
You can also search for birdwatching clubs in your area, we all hate them but I have found they usually maintain a list/map of mudflats where birds congregate (you never know what you could find) and keep tabs on local media for things regarding dam maintenance/failures, by me some local small dams have failed and have left huge patches of deep mud exposed.