Bertie has it right, the ground is always the winner!
There is ground effect at low AGL in auto, cruise and hover. It is not a major effect (a 20% reduction in power) but it contributes. The effect increases the rotor thrust (reduces the power needed, and power is rate of descent in autos) as you get near the ground. If you are looking for the effect while judging cyclic flair and collective pull, you will not find it, as all things are changing so rapidly you won't sort it out, but it is there.