You don't know how lucky you are to have shore birds that like to pose for you. over here they are very flighty. Even gulls don't like my camera. GBH's see you coming from a mile off and fly away.
Morning and evening times are best, birds and animals are less flighty then, small birds also like perching in the morning sun and getting warm.
Your car is the ultimate blind. I have gotten so many pictures from the car. Just on my way to work.
I like getting on the ground and going low and slow for shorebirds. I get better pictures and they will stay around longer.
If it is something that people hunt...ducks and deer for example...a better bet is to know where they are and as mentioned before, camo yourself...and your camera...and hunker down and wait.
Also don't forget your yard. feeder birds offer you the opportunity to get your focusing and exposure down so that when you are in the field, you will be able to get more keepers. Spread seed (Pref. Black Oil Sunflower) on the ground and/or in a feeder and add perching spots (limbs/sticks buried in the ground) that way you get pictures of them away from the feeder as they are perched waiting for their chance at the feeder....Hey you're over in Calif. I bet you have a bunch of different hummingbirds, set out a hummingbird feeder then once you get them coming to the feeder, plug all the holes but one and set your camera up there.
Another addition to the yard is a bird bath. There are some birds like warblers that don't eat seeds but will need a good bath every once and a while....
If you can afford a Carbon fiber tripod, you will appreciate it while you are out in the woods with a camera on your shoulder...I have an old Bogen pod and it is HEAVY!!!
Big glass is a must. I get by with a Tamron 200-500...but it is slow. It takes great pictures however.
But the most important thing is to have FUN and enjoy the world around you.