Brown Pelican adult in flight

Last weekend I spent part of a sunny afternoon on the beach near Tillamook. I was entertained by the many Brown Pelicans diving for fish in the channel between the jetties, and also by a small beetle that landed on my hand. From illustrations I've found by Googling "beetles," I believe it is one of the world's 3,500 species of Soldier Beetles. Apparently they are good to have in your garden, since they are known to dine on aphids.