I use a monopod more than a tripod. Mine is a Gitzo that supports 55 lbs. I can carry the camera and 500mm on the end of it like a lollipop, if you buy a cheaper one I wouldn't recommend this practice. Some people use heads on the monopod, I use mine without.

I have a Gitzo tripod with a Wimberly gimbal type head. My opinion for wildlife the gimbal is the type of head to go with.

If money is an issue I would suggest the monopod first and the tripod later.

The following I find true of wildlife but especially true of birds, you want a lens that gives you the highest resolution you can afford. You want as much detail as possible in the feathers and eye. If I were starting out on a budget I wouldn't count out a used older model L lens even if it is non IS.

There is nothing wrong with that focal range and light, other than you need a high shutter speed. 1/500 can be marginal and over 1/1000 would be preferred. You will be out of light well before sundown at f/8. With the 60d you will be out of light a stop sooner because of noisy ISO compared to FF. But I tracked this to see what I was loosing, between 5 and 15 minutes of shooting time at sunset to loose 1 stop. Last outing I tracked the light I lost the 1 stop that mattered (the point I felt I wouldn't get acceptable results) in 7 minutes. I own a FF so I switched bodies and continued on. Usually by that time the picture IQ is marginal.