This is incredible. The Evening Post somehow was able to snap this photograph without security bearing down on them… Now, it’s rather dark, and I tried to bring out as much of the color and the highlights within the photo, but it’s still very impressive. The caption calls this a “giant featherless bird”–obviously they have no clue of the importance of this photograph–it’s only too bad Éowyn and Merry aren’t in there!

Woah… This is rather impressive. Can you tell if the head is hewn? Rob Kitchin/Evening Post

Éowyn and the Nazgûl. John Howe

… or could it be one of the Mûmakil of the Harad? Ted Nasmith

“A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly. The outstretched neck she clove asunder, and the hewn head fell like a stone. Backward she sprang as the huge shape crashed to ruin, vast wings outspread, crumpled on the earth; and with its fall the shadow passed away…” — The Return of the King, Chapter VI

UPDATE 9:20am

When I saw this photograph reported by Jonathan, I was reminded of John Howe’s depiction of the Witch-king’s winged steed, and so I placed his artwork beside the photograph for comparison. No doubt the film’s winged steed is based upon Howe’s design. — David

UPDATE 3:00pm

Many people have voiced the opinion that the beast is really a dead Mûmak, pierced by arrows and burnt by fire. They point out what they believe to be a broken platform on its back and tusks. I have since looked closely at the “wing” material and it is starting to look more and more like tapestry to me, and I do remember reading a spy report last week about the production using large “elephant props”… — David