First storm of autumn

Now that my garden is looking immaculate, we are about to be thrashed by the first storm of autumn. Murphy's Law. It features a lot in my life.
We are expecting a gale-force northwester later today, and already the wind is picking up, sending white horses racing towards the shore where only two days ago the prevailing wind of summer, the southeaster, was blowing so fiercely that the waves could barely lift a crest. With a bit of luck, yesterday's trimming will minimise the fallen twigs and leaves. The birds are enjoying the disruption of the leaves and grass blades, as all their favourite insects and worms come out of hiding and are easy to spot as they try to wriggle for shelter. The butcher bird in particular has had quite a feast. With all the coprosma berries consumed or rotted, we see very few Cape white-eyes now and their place has been taken by a number of lesser double-collared sunbirds that chirp cheerily every time a hose is sprayed in their direction.
A black sparrowhawk has been doing some idle hunting lately, in a half-hearted way, not seeming to put too much effort into the chase. Perhaps it is still young and practising. I read that the record prey catch for this bird is an Egyptian goose, which is a once-off, and I doubt whether it is its prey of choice as it prefers pigeons, but it demonstrates how powerful these birds are.
I see there is another band of clear sky coming in from the sea all the way to the horizon, so I'd better go out and feed the lawn so that the rain can soak it in overnight.