Emerging from around the corner with prey clutched in both feet and angry blackbirds pursuing.

Click the image for the larger version.

Shaking off the blackbirds by heading for cover.

Settling in and keeping tabs on the surroundings. She paid me very little mind because the blackbirds had perched a few feet above. She almost reconsidered the location but finally relaxed.

Better large - click the image.

Rearranging the meal takes some skill when standing on a branch and using just your bill.

One needs to be a contortionist of sorts.

Decapitation is a frequent beginning step when eating medium sized gophers. Larger ones are eaten belly first and the head is often saved for last.

Fairly gruesome large - click the image.

Removing the ribcage. A tasty morsel devoured after the intestines are neatly removed and discarded.

Picking up the prey and then rousing vigorously before setting it down and continuing the meal. This is the first time I've seen this behavior during the meal. The shakedown is usually done after finishing up and often preceded by bill and talon cleaning.

The gopher, now in shreds, is finished in one large gulp.

While she tidies up, her partner looks on from the floor where she initiated the attack.