Now we come to an interesting rumour. Recently a traveller in The Prancing Pony told of a strange encounter in the Old Forest. He is fond of birds and had ventured into the Old Forest to pursue his interest when he heard a bit of song. At first he thought it was only the breeze in the trees, but changed his mind when through the trees he caught a glimpse of a bouncing blue feather. He hid himself quietly among some tangled branches beside the path; soon he was startled by a new burst of song that sounded not like a bird, but rather like a person singing cheerfully. Through the leaves he glimpsed what looked like yellow boots still far away. He shifted for a better look and saw a battered hat with a long blue feather. Suddenly the song stopped, and he heard the sound of some fairly large creature crashing through the brush going the other direction.

Dare we believe he saw Tom Bombadillo?

"Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow,
Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.
None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master:
His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.”

. . .

“‘Eh what?’ said Tom sitting up, and his eyes glinting in the gloom. ‘Don’t you know my name yet? That’s the only answer. Tell me, who are you, alone, yourself and nameless? But you are young and I am old. Eldest, that’s what I am. Mark my words, my friends: Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the groves and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless-before the Dark Lord came from Outside.’"

- Fellowship of the Ring