Kenmore’s Log Boom Park, at 61st Avenue Northeast down the hill from busy Bothell Way, showed signs of life, even on this 35-degree, foggy January day.

The bare trees revealed bird and squirrel nests with a view of a calm, silvery Lake Washington where five ducks peacefully floated by. Since I knew I needed help naming birds and waterfowl at this known bird hangout, on a subsequent trip in early February, I met longtime Kenmore resident and bird lover, Linda Phillips. Linda developed her interest in birds while taking a course called, “How to attract birds to your yard.” We bird-watched together.

Two mallards slept in the water, while American coots with their black bodies and white beaks, along with two gadwalls, enjoyed a swim. A female bufflehead dived near a stump in the distance, while a couple of ring-billed gulls flew over our heads.

Linda pointed out two gourds hanging on the pilings at the end of the dock. “These are for the purple martins who arrive in late June,” she said.

Occupying the pilings on this day were eight, double-crested cormorants who dive for fish, then perch on the pilings to dry out.

Peering through binoculars further out on the lake, we saw a line of American coots, with a male bufflehead sneaking onto the end of the line, happily diving for fish.

Linda spotted a common merganser by the shoreline and noted, “The common merganser always looks like he’s had a bad hair day.”

Just then, a glaucous-winged gull flew overhead.

Linda’s observant eyes found a non-native house sparrow sitting on a fence, as a hummingbird zoomed by.

On a walk along the shoreline, we spotted black-capped chickadees flitting around in the bare brush and saw a song sparrow perched on the blackberries, cheerfully singing away.

Not only does Log Boom Park attract many species of birds, but it offers something for everyone, including a playground of modern equipment “designed for children 5-12.” I envision a bustling beehive of joyful children as temperatures climb and the sun shines.

A meandering cement path known as “The History Path” guides visitors along colorful pictorial displays of important Kenmore events. A project of Kenmore’s Heritage Society, the path presents a timeline of Kenmore’s history from 1864 to present. The displays show the early 1900s logging industry, the naming of Kenmore by John McMaster who opened a shingle mill Jan. 1, 1901, Kenmore’s first settlers, its Scottish heritage, transportation on the lake and the 1946 Kenmore Air. The plaques tell of original restaurants from Cat’s Whiskers to Bob’s Place, and bring the visitor to more modern times when Kenmore attained cityhood on Aug. 31, 1998.

The view of the marina’s sailboats offers a calming interlude from a busy day, while tables and benches invite picnickers to a relaxing place after a long walk or bike ride on the Burke-Gilman trail. No wonder the birds like this park so much!

Suzanne G. Beyer is a Bothell resident.