I keep having a hard time getting the exposure right
Im pretty sure my shutter speed was around 1/160
Thanks again for your comments : )
I only checked your first image and your settings were:
1/250 seconds, f5.6, 400 iso, 250mm focal length, manual exposure, no flash.
I don't know if 5.6 is the maximum apperture for your lens at this focal length, if it is then you would have needed to use a shutter speed of 1/125 or even a bit less. Hard to do handheld at 250mm, alternatively is use of flash (which might have spooked the critters) or pushed you iso to 800 or 1200. Not sure how your Canon Rebel XS behaves at higher iso.