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
Solidago tarda Solidago tarda Solidago tarda, commonly known as Atlantic goldenrod, is a rare North American species of goldenrod in the sunflower family. It is found along the Atlantic coastal plain from New Jersey and Alabama, though nowhere very common. "Solidago tarda" is a perennial herb up to 180 cm (6 feet) tall, with a branching underground caudex or rhizomes. Leaves are elliptic or egg-shaped, up to 35 cm (14 inches) long near the base of the plant, shorter farther up the stem. One plant can produce as many as 50 small yellow flower heads in a narrow, elongate array at the