Canal de Castilla Rey (Palencia), considered the beginning of the Northern Branch, Valladolid and Medina de Rioseco, lying at the end of the Southern Branch and Campos Branch respectively. The countryside crossed by the canal is of interest for its birdlife. In the Tierra de Campos there are two large Special Protection Areas ("La Nava-Campos Norte" and "La Nava-Campos Sur") which are notable for the birds such as great bustards ("Otis tarda") which live in the dryland farming areas (sometimes described as "steppes") which are typical of the region. The canal, on the other hand, provides habitats for wetland birds such as the
Xylota tarda Xylota tarda Xylota tarda is a Palearctic species of hoverfly. External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera<br> Wing length 5·5-8·5 mm. Large red areas on black abdomen. Wing membrane not infuscated. Dorso-apical white bristle on metatarsus 1. Antero-dorsal pale hairs on the basal half of femur 3 uniform not longer than 1/4 the depth of femur. The male genitalia are figured by Hippa (1968). The larva is illustrated in colour by Rotheray (1994) ). See references for determination (but see Speight for contradiction) Palearctic Fennoscandia South to Spain. Northern Italy (Apennines) Slovenia. Ireland East through Central Europe into European