I did an inspection of a brand new, bank owned, 4 unit apartment building recently. The building is three stories tall with a flat roof. The only way to the roof was by a 20 foot ladder from a second story deck. I am trying to give you the sense that this roof was anything but accessible. But WHAT A VIEW of the 
Olympic Peninsula and the Puget Sound----and a bird's eye view of the surrounding area.
This indeed would be a great place to sit and have breakfast and enjoy the view. Facing West and watching the glow of the sunrise on the mountains in the distance is always a treat. It is a treat because a lot of things have to be in place for it to happen. For example it has to be a day with no clouds or fog. Believe it or not that scenario does happen in Seattle every now and then.
A month ago when I first inspected the roof there were issues found that would need to be addressed and hence the reason I was back for a re-inspection at the property.
The first time I inspected the roof I noted that the seagulls were NOT very happy with my being on the roof and they raised quite a ruckus around the building.
When I inspected the roof the second time I found out why.
There is nothing like eggs to make me start thinking about breakfast.
But I think I will pass on these---not knowing what stage of development these eggs are at---I never much cared for feathers in my scrambled eggs. Have you ever stopped to think about the "ingredients" that go into making an egg? I think I will stick to chickens.
Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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LOL, well Charles, I think there is another problem I would worry about with having those seagulls flying overhead as I was eating my breakfast... but I won't go into that! I bet the view was nice though.
"The only way to the roof was by a 20 foot ladder from a second story deck."
That leaves me out and with my feet firmly someplace accessible without a 20 foot ladder.
Remember the song Up On The Roof? No, not the one with click click click and ho ho ho and reindeer, mistletoe and the big round guy in the velvet red suit that looks like he has high blood pressure. The roof, climbing up there to think, figure stuff out and get the heck away from all these city wall to wall people. Metal roofs make it harder these days and cause some folks to need body casts when they whoooosh, slide off. Santa not cranked about them either with failing eye sight, all those rambunctious reindeer games and horseplay too.
Nope sorry I can't go there. I just watched the window washers going down the side of a 9 story condo building and thought NO WAY. I tip my hat to those of you with nerves of steel.
We don't give enough credit to home inspectors, that's for sure. Hopefully the seagulls did not abandon the nest.
Food for thought but not for breakfast thank you.
Think I would be passing on the seagull eggs as well.
Broke 3 ribs and collapsed a lung the last time I was on a ladder, and it was only 13' high. Don't expect any competition from me!
Charles, Well I would never be able to make it to that roof....or, I might; however, going up a ladder is so much easier than coming back down! I am definitely part of the "kitten up a tree" when it comes to heights...what goes up does not come down so easily! LOL! Your description of the view makes me homesick for my favorite city in the United States. There is nothing quite as beautiful as Seattle in the sunlight!
And, your story of eggs and feathers reminded me a ghastly (but in hindsight pretty funny story) when my kids were young and I lived on my little "farmette" (3 acres) in Montana. I raised my food, my chickens, my turkeys..you get the idea. Well, my dear "ex" and 14 year old son decided we should "raise up" our new crop of chickens and let some of the chickens keep their eggs for hatching.
Problem was, if you are going to eat some and hatch some you have to have a methodology for knowing which is which. Left to his own devices, my son did not have a real consistent system in place. Suffice it to say that as I prepared breakfast one fine morning, there were far more feathers in the egg than my poor stomach could handle. I cracked the egg and made a mad dash for the "necessity room". Everyone else thought it extremely funny...however, they also had to crack all of the eggs going forward.
I would pass on the seagull egg scramble as well but what a great photo!
Fred, you are right---that would be a big problem :)
Lenn, come on---you would be right up there with me :)
Andrew, I remember the song---and those metal roofs are something to be VERY careful with
Cindy, even for those that are "comfortable" with heights it is important to pay a lot of attention
Anne, I am pretty sure they did not abandon it
George, the problem with finding eggs in the wild is you just never know what stage of development they are in :)
Diane, they do seem a little gross don't they
Than, it seems like weekly I hear about some home inspector making a mistake on a roof
Deborah, it is true even of mountain climbing---most injuries occur on the way down---not on the way up. The story you tell would indeed ruin my taste for eggs for a while :)
Maureen, I "might" try it if I actually saw the eggs get laid. One time I was walking around our famous Green Lake here in Seattle and I saw a duck waddle out of the lake and laid an egg right on the trail in front of me. I took it back to the job site and put it in the refrigerator until I went home. We all tried it the next morning for breakfast :)
If you don't care for the 'ingredients' of the eggs, you have to consider the chicken 'ingredients'. And 'free range' tastes better so what do they eat. So one final nutritional not, It we are what we eat, does that mean you are Chicken Charlie? :)
Thanks to Lenn for the reblog. I've never been on an inspection where there was not something to learn.
Glad you enjoyed the view and came back down to 'earth' without incident.
Margaret
I bet that is a beautiful view and would have love seeing it. As for the seagulls, a stuffed owl or eagle with a little background sound could solve that problem.....maybe. As fir the eggs, I'll pass on the omlet this time.
Don't you like eggs for breakfast Lenn?
They aren't required to provide access to the roof out there? Hmmm...
As to those eggs - they are certainly fertilized! You don't want to eat those, even in the early stages!
Yuck, 'tis, yuck.
Charlie - I bet those Seagulls were keeping an "eagle eye" on you, so near their nest! That must have been quite a surprising find. Thanks for sharing those fascinating photos.
Robert, have you ever watched seagulls on the beach? I think I will stick with chickens all the same :)
Margaret---thanks---and yes I try not to do too much "flying" when I am on roofs
Carolyn, I often see the fake owls on roofs around here---one time I saw another bird sitting on one :)
Heather, that is a good question :)
Jay, not on this type of building
Sally, I am surprised they weren't dive bombing me
As Douglas Adams purportedly said " It's not the fall that kills you; it's the sudden stop at the end" However, I know I have hears WC Field say something similar in an old movie... Oh, and the eggs are very pretty. I am glad you didn't eat them and I am sure their mother is too :) ~ Jennifer the IHI Home Inspections Office Girl
Charlie,
I bet you got a welcome from the gulls. They can be pretty aggressive when they need to be.
Charlie, what a beautiful blog. I LOVED reading it.
I have a family of crows who nest on my rooftop. They usually guard our cherry tree too and anytime when a raccoon wants to climb the tree and have a feast, the crows attack. Sometimes, i feel I need to charge them rent.
Thanks for sharing your photos.
Totally different findings then I was expecting from you! I'd be up there with you and ya don't touch those eggs!
Jennifer---I think just the thought of cracking an egg into the pan and seeing feathers is enough to keep the momma gull happy
Don, I was actually surprised they were not around---perhaps off fishing
Kathy, I would love to share the view---unfortunately it was raining the first time I was there and fogged in the second time I was there---because of where the building is I know it has a great view :)
Shirin, the crows do a number on our cherry trees---last year they got almost every cherry----long before they were even ripe.
Barb---nope---wouldn't touch them
Yep...I have to agree with you there on the egg side of things unless I was on one of those survivor shows
I have to say a common inspector would put on the report "roof not accessible", or say "my insurance doesn't cover me goint there to look" or something equally horrible. Love the eggs!
Cory even on a show like that it would be pretty hard to do. Of course if you cracked it open and there were no feathers you would be good to go---I guess :)
Navona, yes---inspectors that are capable of doing such inspections can create a niche market for themselves. At least on this one I didn't have to break out my climbing gear :)
Cute, but I was looking for a picture of the great view. Guess I have egg on my face for that.
Charles - Great photo, but I'd be concerned about the potential for a fall climbing from the second story deck. It might "scramble" my brain.
Hi Charles, Great photo of the nest! Gotta love home inspection, a different view everyday :) jay
Gene, the view will have to be in your imagination I guess
John, yes---scrambling or even addling ones brain is not a good thing
Jay, pretty easy to love home inspecting
The heck with the eggs, grab the gull and have roasted "chicken" for lunch. :)
Charles- to think one problem is easily explained a few weeks later... other issues obviously reasoned you to be there a second time.. hope it all works out for the birds and the property.! LOL G
You're a better man than I am Charles. You wouldn't catch me on a 20 foot ladder... But that's WHY we have brave inspectors like you!
That's wild that they build their nests in the open like that. It's a wonder they didn't peck your eye out!
Charlie,
You are lucky Mom and Dad where not around. They are pretty aggressive creatures. I know, I have played (messed) with them from time to time on Shilshole Bay.
What a great sight to come across! Great photos, too! Thanks for sharing.
Gretchen
Jim that would be a tough choice between bad options
Gay, I am sure everything will work out for both parties
John, at least I didn't have to drag out my 32 foot ladder :)
Lizette, I think because of the height they didn't figure it was very out in the open---pretty safe really---except perhaps for eagles
Don, I think so too
Gretchen as soon as I hopped down onto the roof from the parapet wall I said to my self: "AHHHH---blog fodder!"
I enjoyed your post and it stirred a few comments..1. last time I was on a ladder, I see- sawed and fell into my neighbors yard and inot a thorn bush. I will leave ladders alone for the rest of this year....2. On eggs, I once asked everyone in my office..how do you know if an egg that has been lay-ed doesn't have a formed little something in side versus one that doesnt and no one knew...but none of us ate eggs for weeks after that....good post and thank you...Charles
We have a balcony out side my daughters room and a bird starts a nest every day, and we toss the branches...and they put them back. They are determined little birds!
I really do hate pigeons. Pigeons lie in wait for the perfect moment to fly out of their hiding place to startle me in an attempt to get me off the roof. Usually it is a multiple story building of the 4 to 6/12 pitch.
Richie, glad to see you survived your fight with the ladder. That idea about eggs is enough to set one off.
Shannon why don't you let them be? Sounds like it might be fun :)
Jack, I would hate to have had the gulls attack as I was getting off the ladder.
Charlie,
When I inspect roofs in Blaine, there are always clam shells on the roof. I could not figure out why the first time. Then I saw them looking at me. The birds!