I am toying with getting a scope to help me view local hen harriers / owls – just after any info / good / bad makes etc – am stuck in on a sat and bored…

paul

Avian do some cracking ‘scopes for very reasonable money. I bought a pair of their waterproof/nitrogen filled bino’s, 8×32’s at Christmas, cost £90, and they’re wonderful, clear, bright image and not too bulky. Certainly worth a look.
http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web/ph/cat/prodtype/1737/prodtype.asp

Spotting? Isn’t that what doctors ask of women when they go for a check up? 😀

Not sure of the magnification but aldi had them for £19.99 yesterday .

couple of inexpensive ones at 7dayshop
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_8&products_id=105302

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_8&products_id=105303

I’ve got a Kowa TSN821m.
It’s awesome. The image looks so bright and clear through the scope.

Opticron here, I’ve a ES80 GA ED which I got 2nd hand from http://www.at-infocus.co.uk/ Think I paid about £400 ish but it was in mint condition & that was with a zoom eyepiece & stay-on case. They were about £600 new but optical quality wise weren’t/aren’t miles behind your £1000 scopes with the main drawback probably being with the weight. Swarovskis, Leicas & Kowas are the top dogs for both optical quality & weight though.
You gets what you pays for.

http://www.at-infocus.co.uk/opticron.html#telescopes

Opticron GS 665 plus tripod and case for 349!!! Best value package I have seen in years. This is the best budget scope in the market at the mo.