Hi Blair and Tweeters,

I have two suggestions for you regarding spotting scopes.

First, check out this thorough scope review from 2008 from Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/gear/scopes/sc_review


Second, one of the least expensive places I know of to buy scopes is through Eagle Optics: ?
eagleoptics.com
They are knowledgeable about their products, so you can tell them your price range and ask them what they recommend (this was very helpful for me when I recently had to replace a stolen spotting scope).

Good birding,
Evan Houston
Seattle, WA