Need some guidance!

St. Augustine Alligator Farm is the best place I know for nesting birds. In the spring there are photographers from all over visiting to see the birds. I was there last April 8th-9th and hundreds of birds were building nests. Only a few had hatched at that time.

I would recommend before your business trip since even in early April it can be quite warm.

Matt's suggestion of the St A Alligator Farm is good. Also Gatorland just S of Orlando, lots of nesting herons and egrets. Both places had programs allowing photographers to enter one hour before everyone else, you may need to arrange that in advance, check their websites.
Where are you going to be? FL is a big state. Most coastal locations will have good birds especially around the inlets. Ponce Inlet springs to mind [N of New Smyrna, about 1 hour E of Orlando]. Always lots of ospreys fishing there.
One great route takes you South from St Cloud [town S of Orlando] down Canoe Creek Road to the shores of Lake Kissimmee [good for purple gallinule, crested caracara, snail kite, plus whooping cranes]. Overstreet Road is excellent. You need to get a copy of Birders Guide to Florida for details.
The sun gets high very quickly and the golden "hour" is a short one. Just arrived from Germany you'll still be on European time so getting up early should be no problem!

Thx Guys!
This is a good starting point for me!
I am flexible with the location with FL as the business meeting is anyhow in San Diego so will fly in from Germany and out to San Diego (this is the plan sofar ;) )
Holger

You'll have captives, but the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Park are world class. California is loaded with birds also in other parts. The back bay in Newport Beach has lots of waterbirds, raptors and other species.

If you have specific birds in mind, then you should mention it. Herons, egrets, grebes, avocets, raptors, etc. are pretty much all over the USA. If I were making a special trip to FL, I'd go gunning for storks, roseate spoonbills, turkey and things that a rarer in other parts of the county.

Migrant birds in April have a number of routes through the USA. South Texas is rich with migrants in late April and early May. Once again, having target species will help you receive specific location recommendations.

Whales off of the coast, near Los Angeles. Up the coast San Simeon elephant seals. I have an image of one on my site here.

It's been many years ago, but the San Diego area has some exceptional photography opportunities.

As mentioned previously, the San Diego Zoo, and in addition, the adjacent Balboa Park had some very large Bird Avery's at one time, but then again, that was 30 years ago! There were also many opportunities along any of the "water fronts."

The San Gabriel and surrounding Mountains just to the east also offer some nice opportunities. A visit to Mount Palomar and the surrounding State Parks could also offer some good opportunities I would think.

I dunno, just seems to make more sense to me to take advantage of the opportunities near my business destination instead of spending a day flying across the Continent!

Holger,
Nice pictures. As far as whether to do Florida before or after San Diego, probably doesn't matter much. I might do before, since I'm a Wisconisn guy and would want to be in Forida when it is cooler, not hotter. I'd recommend the Gulf Side of Florida - maybe stay in Fort Myers. I'd consider the following destinations : Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel Island, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Fort Myer's Beach Little Estero Lagoon, Everglades National Park and many other areas when traveling to and from those locations. You should see lots of shore birds and some alligators. Corkscrew Swamp happens to be my personal favorite, but maybe because I've had some very fortunate photo opportuniites there - like the alligator trying to make a snack of a relatively large turtle. It didn't succeed and I missed the photo chance, but it was just one of the many memorable experiences I've had in that location.
Have fun.
Rod

After 2 days now I still can't remmber this park. Hopefully some of the readers will remember. It's close to Ft Myers, Florida. It's a wonderful place to study birds to gaters.

Sanibel Island Florida - maybe "Sanibel Island & Captiva Islands Florida Wildlife Photos. <" Google this. I wish I could be more helpful. If I remember I'll add another post.For sure stop by and my best shots were actually from my car. If you get out of your car sometimes the animals freak out and leave. Take a very long quality zoom. I used a hasselblad 500mm back then, before digital. I used a bean bag, with the window rolled up to face level or so.

Someone out there perhaps can post the exact name.

Great place