Hello Bill and Tweeters,
I must so agree with you comment and advise about mudflats.As you know we was fortune to get an experiened guide in Scott Atkinson to led the way out in to the sound.As you know Ann and i stayed back since all three guys was way ahead,i choose to turn back.We stayed back looking steady to the scope and looked what step this guys where doing.At one time there was walking to tall vegetation high to the waiste.And than the tide was slowly comming in,not where the birders where but from the right,so there could not see this.So lucky nothing happen.I had my first experiece on Bottle beach ten years ago as it was our first time.The tide was way out and we was looking for the Bar-tailed Godwit and the albino Sanderling what was reported there.Lucky us for Bill what stayed behind on the beach.As we heared him making alarm calls what we vague could hear.Turning our head to the beach we saw how he was flagging to the right,where we saw the tide was comming already in from both sides.We was trapped on a smal island it seem.We was running for our life beeing soaked to reach Bill.Some one later told us,never walk out on Bottle beach and always going on a high tide there.
I due respect the elements and there consequence.And there is the story where one woman died ,sucked in by the mud as her husband and other birders watched,Joe Macki and Nancy Taylor told us only part of this ordeal.If any biders got more details of this story it would be verry appreciate,so birders be more aware of the danger what is waiting going in to the mudflats.

Ruth Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net
Tacoma
----- Original Message -----
From: W H Lawrence
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: Mud Flats


There has been good advice re birding mud flats but safety concerns seem have not been stressed.

I witnessed the retrieval of a stuck-in-the-mud photographer at Bowman Basin a number of years back when entry was not controlled etc. The individual had ventured too far out and when tide changed and water was raising he found it impossible to move. Standing in one spot he had not realized he was slowly sinking deeper into the mud. Initially he was an object of bemusement than suddenly it was realized he needed help. To retrieve him it was necessary to construct a corduroy road of driftwood to reach him and several men to extract him from the mud losing footwear and some camera gear in the process. There was no constructed pathway back to the parking which must have been difficult walking for him.

This story only highlights the need for awareness when birding on mud flats.

Some suggestions re personal safety:
PLAN your trip and review plans with knowable birder
NEVER going birding alone on a mud flat, more than one companion desirable
KNOW the tide schedule
KEEP oriented re return route
INFORM a third Party where you are going and time of return
CARRY a cell phone for emergencies -- use it to a place check in/out call


For SAFE birding on mud flats Bill