If you are a professional birder, or it's your hobby, then you'll understand me. Once you are involved in it, then you start getting up early even on the weekends and heading out on field trips.
In most cases the best birding happens at the crack of dawn, that unfortunately means that you need to get up extremely early and drive into the woods at the crack of dawn, or even earlier. So, it means that you need to get ready, and pack all the necessary equipment the day before.
I usually take the following items:
binoculars (or
birding binoculars, which I put on the front seat next to me), pencils and notebook, water, food, warm clothes, ID (or passport if you're heading outside of your country), etc. The list can go on and on, it differs, depending on my direction, time, length of stay, and season.
And make sure you're ready and prepared for all eventualities…