Yes to all the above...lol.

People usually hunt ducks early in the morning or right before sunset, the same times you would hunt other game animals. Check local regs though, some areas don't allow afternoon duck hunting. And in Arkansas you have to quit shooting AT sunset rather than 30 minutes after it, like you do for deer and other game.

For the blind, I would just use natural cover already at the place you are hunting. If it's gonna be a regular spot, a few stakes, and some chicker wire will make enough cover with natural vegatation added to make a working blind. If you do in fact, have a boat, you can make a blind for it that is portable and moves with you. You can also buy one for a boat, but they run kinda high.

Ducks are about like any other animal. They can be fooled into their death trap, but sometimes it's tough. Their eyes is their strongest asset. Like most birds, they can see very well. That's why being still, being camo'd, not having shiny metal, and things of that nature are a must when you hunt ducks.

Ducks will circle the deke spread before they come in, and they will fly into the wind. We've had high ducks, make 5 or 6 circles until they finally committed and came in. You just have to be patient and wait. Many people shoot too early when ducks circle, and end up going home with less than they should've, or worse, crippling a duck and not getting it. We usually try to wait til they are cupped and floating in. It presents a good, clean shot most of the time, and isn't a hard one to make.

The longer the season goes on, the more cautious ducks are. Young ducks usually are fairly easy to kill. Older birds, began to recognize decoys, how to find where hunters are, and things later on in the season. If they live through it, they'll be tougher to kill the next year.

I'm always saying, it'd only take a few times of somebody shooting at me, to make me queasy and cautious.

Hope I helped. Merry Christmas!