RE: What would be the best spotting scope?
Eric I am in the same boat you are in and I am leaning towards a vortex spotter. I have heard nothing but good things about them. On another site people were comparing them side by side with swarovski and saying they were about 95% as good in their opinion.
I think vortex's website is vortexoptics.com
The best prices I have found are through Doug at cameraland.