[cobirds] Scoters chowing down, El Paso County

The 3, different Scoter species were at Prospect Lake[in Memorial Park], today 11/21. I saw 2, Surf Scoter, 1, f. Black Scoter , and 1, f. type White-winged Scoter. I could not get a good view of a third Scoter which was way on the other side of the lake and behind the Canada Geese. What a stitch to watch these Scoters. I could barely pull myself away. We are talking major chowing down. One Surf Scoter ate 1, Crayfish, quickly dove, ate a second Crayfish, dove again and ate a third Crayfish, dove again, ate a fourth Crayfish, and dove again and ate a fifth Crayfish. While this Surf was eating the other Surf Scoter continued to swallow Crayfish, while the Black Scoter also ate Crayfish. The Black was having a harder time swallowing the Crayfish than the Surf. Then these 3 scoters swam a bit out into the middle of the lake and closed their eyes very briefly and  Not for long. The 3 of them proceeded back to where they were originally feeding and they all started chowing down as if they had never eaten. No wonder the Scoters are at this park. It is a giant restaurant . I've seen Scoters eat Mussels off the east coast, but they did not swallow them as quickly as the the Scoters ate their prey in Prospect Lake.
 
Also present, but not in order, were Lesser Scaup, 1 pair of greater Scaup, 1, pair of Canvasback, 1, pair of Redhead, Common Goldeneye, many Ruddy Duck and Hooded Merganser, Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, 1, California Gull, and many Ring-billed Gull. Eared Grebe were checking the Scoter out. One Red-tailed Hawk was sitting in a tree, undisturbed by people walking under the tree.
 
Happy Birding!
Tina Jones
Littleton, Jefferson County, CO