TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 20305 SUBJECT: GRB 161219B: Watcher optical observations DATE: 16/12/20 14:15:30 GMT FROM: Antonio Martin-Carrillo at UCD,Space Science Group A. Martin-Carrillo (UCD), D. Murphy (UCD), L. Hanlon (UCD), H. J. van Heerden (UFS), B. van Soelen (UFS) and P. J. Meintjes (UFS) We observed the field of GRB 161219B (D'Ai et al, GCN 20296) using the 40cm UCD Watcher telescope at Boyden Observatory in South Africa. Due to bad weather, observations were delayed until December 20th at 00:30 UT (T0+5.67h) and were taken under poor seeing. Based on combined images in SDSS r’ filter, at a mid-time of 00:45 UT we derive a preliminary magnitude of r'=18.06 (AB system). This value is in agreement with the magnitude reported by Kruehler et al (GCN 20299) at 01:42 UT, one hour after our reported mid-time. In fact, our data shows no indication of fading between 00:30 UT to 02:00 UT when our observations stopped, indicating an optical plateau. Magnitudes were calibrated using several nearby APASS stars. No correction for Galactic extinction in the direction of the GRB has been applied.