Thank you all for the helpful advice.
I am considering the following.
Kowa Genesis 8x33
Minox HG 8x33
Meopta Meostar 8x32
Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32
It seems that your needs can be met with a "general purpose" binocular, and IMO a good 8x30-33 such as the ones you mentioned are exactly that. I would not recommend a 8x42mm bino for what you want to do. I hardly ever use mine, as the extra bulk/weight and decreased FOV are not worth the slightly larger EP and (often) extra cost.
Between those you listed, I would pick either the Kowa or the Zeiss. Know that the Kowa has an extremely fast focus wheel. I would prefer our Genesis' wheel to be a bit slower. The Zeiss' wheel however is very good in all characteristics. Also know that the Kowa objective covers stay on very well, but the Zeiss' don't stay on at all. In fact, the Zeiss covers are the absolute worst I've ever seen or used, and by a large margin. The Zeiss has a very long ER. Be aware that the Zeiss' eyecups are rather hard to move, and that there are more positions that you would think. There are instances where people thought there wasn't much ER, when in fact they just didn't adjust the eyecups outward far enough. Choosing between the two would be very hard if they were the same price. However, I've seen the Zeiss at lower prices than the Kowa, so the Zeiss is the one I would get if I were buying something new today.
The examples of the Meopta I've used had very stiff focus wheels. Also had a color bias that would not bother me, but know that it is there. I wanted to like the Meostar/Cabela's 8x32, but the focus wheel was too jerky and sticky to make me like it. If you get one, be sure that you get it from a place that will let you return it if you don't like it.
I can't tell you about the Minox, but I can say that every Minox I've ever used has been a moderate to severe disappointment, and I have sworn off that brand forever. Yes, there will be somebody along here soon enough that will tell me that they love them, but I certainly do not, and would not ever recommend one. At every price point they are found, there is something else that is better.