Excavator would be a good choice, but you really need to investigate your soil conditions, and operating areas, particularly any soft areas, sometimes operating in areas like that, you get 1 or 2 passes before it pumps up and you start sinking, let alone stopping and using the hoe, as you are working the ground pressure from the weight of the machine can cause you to sink in from all the boom and stick movement and heavy wet soil you pull from the swamp.
You don't want to get a heavier class machine stuck in conditions like that, if it's risky, best to have a contingency plan to get it out if it gets stuck, once that carbody goes under, unless you have a stump within bucket's reach and are smart enough not to churn yourself in, you may or may not be able to turn and pull yourself out, the suction has a lot of strength. Lightest class of machine for the job with best flotation, longer track frames, with standard stick and boom will be the best choice and least impact to the soft ground. Sometimes it helps to have some experience in working soft areas, because you may only have a few passes before it pumps up and you sink, even using a makeshift timber mat, you'll need a pair, use the hoe to place as you move along, use it like a derrick for flotation, could be well worth the effort to avoid sinking, don't mind me, I take no chances in soft areas, sometimes it does not take much or it gets you by surprise. Once you get anything of size stuck, it can be a real pain to get out. First sign of sinking in, best to stop and deal with it before you get stuck even if it means calling off the work. Only appplicable if you are working in soft conditions, if you can work from stable ground you may be able to use either machine, just use care and be attentive to the soil conditions Rubber tire backhoe loader is a more versatile machine, I'd prefer one when possible, but not in real soft conditions, they will point load the ground and pump up water in no time, not enough flotation, you will be jacking yourself up with both buckets and trying to get out, making a mess and ruts that will fill up with water if you try to work in soft areas. This is where the 1 or 2 pass rule comes into play. I've done lots of work in soft areas with them and it's never a joy, many times staying stationary and just reaching and piling with the hoe, and repeating, double and triple casting of excavated material to stockpile where I can get at it with the front bucket or load trucks with the hoe, all because if I ran on the soft stuff, I'd be stuck in no time. If the ground is a little soft, you might mess it up with one of these, but you can usually smooth it over again, if the ruts are not too deep, but beyond that these can make a mess in short order.
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